Northern Australia.

GMT + 9.5.

1,349,130 sq km (520,902 sq miles).

215,000 (official estimate 2007).

0.2 per sq km.

Darwin. Population: 114,400 (2006).

A wilderness stretching roughly 1,670km (1,038 miles) north to south and 1,000km (620 miles) east to west, the Northern Territory comprises nearly one-sixth of Australia. The geography of the Northern Territory is the closest to the popular image of the Great Australian Outback.

The northern area, centred on the capital, Darwin, is tropical with rich vegetation and a varied coastline. Beyond Darwin, 251km (155 miles) east, is World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, which is part of the 12,600 sq km (4,500 sq mile) area of Arnhem Land. It is an area of vast flood plains and rocky escarpments steeped in natural and cultural heritage. Aboriginal people have lived here for at least 40,000 years. Katherine township is 314km (195 miles) from Darwin and a further 30km (20 miles) northeast is Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park with 13 gorges towering up to 60m (200ft) high.

The southern part of the Northern Territory is centred on the town of Alice Springs, which is almost at the geographical centre of Australia and the starting point of many of the Red Centre's unique and natural wonders, including Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Other notable features of the Red Centre are King's Canyon, Trephina, Ormiston and Glen Helen Gorge, the Olgas near Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Devil's Marbles at Tennant Creek. There are also other parks and reserves with abundant bird and animal life.