| NORTHERN
TERRITORY |
| The
Northern Territory contains some of the most pristine and ecologically
important coastal and marine areas in the Australian tropics. The
coastal areas of the Northern Territory are sparsely inhabited apart from
around Darwin. |
| The
traditional owners, the Indigenous Australians control 84 percent of the
coastline to the low water mark and are increasingly sharing their traditional
knowledge of "saltwater country" |
| What's
it like? |
| Darwin
Harbour is a tropical estuary, covering approximately 450 square kilometres.
It has 23 square kilometres of mangrove and saltmarsh communities. Darwin
is lucky enough to be one of the few cities in the world with a large
area of mangroves on its doorstep. |
| What
lives here? |
| As
well as supporting all kinds of bird, fish, shellfish and plant life the
mangroves act as a protection against flood damage during extra high tides
and cyclones. |
| Darwin
Harbour is home to five kinds of sea turtles, the peaceful dugong that
feeds on seagrasses and the elusive Irrawaddy River Dolphin. The harbour
contains more than 100 kinds of coral and hundreds of different kinds
of sponges. |
