Tiwi Islands is a group of islands off the coast of Northern Australia 80 km north of the city of Darwin at the confluence of the Arafura and Timor Seas .
| Tiwi | |
|---|---|
| English Tiwi islands | |
 | |
| Characteristics | |
| Number of islands | eleven |
| Largest island | Melville |
| total area | 8320 km² |
| Population | 2579 people (2011) |
| Population density | 0.31 people / km² |
| Location | |
| Water area | Arafura Sea |
| A country |
|
| Region | Northern Territory |
Content
- 1 Geography
- 2 History
- 3 Local government
- 4 population
- 5 Culture
- 6 Gallery
- 7 See also
- 8 References
- 9 notes
Geography
The Tiwi Islands consist of two islands: Melville , Bathurst and 9 uninhabited small islands (Buchanan, Harris, Seagull, Karslake, Irritutu, Clift, Turiturina, Matingalia and Nodlaw), with a total area of 8320 km². Melville is Australia's second largest island.
The coast of the islands is mostly rocky and steep. The wet season lasts from October to March, the drought season - from April to August.
The surface of both islands of the group is covered with dense vegetation (mainly eucalyptus forests). In some places, there are mangroves . The fauna is represented by animals that are widespread throughout Australia: wallaby , posum , bandicoots , snakes and lizards .
History
The islands were discovered by the Dutch traveler Abel Tasman in 1644 . In April 1705, a group of Dutchmen landed on Tiwi. In 1824, a British military settlement was founded on the island of Melville, which existed until 1829 .
In June 1911, the first Catholic missionaries landed on Bathurst Island, settling in the city of Nguiu.
During the Second World War , February 19, 1942 , the Tiwi Islands were attacked by Japanese aircraft.
Local government
In 1912, the Tiwi Islands were declared a reserve of Australian Aborigines. In 1980, the management of the group was transferred to the Tivi Aboriginal Land Council. On July 12, 2001, the Tiwi Islands Self-Government Area was formed.
Population
The islands are inhabited by the Australian natives of Tiwi, who settled on the Tiwi islands long before the Europeans appeared on them. In 1996, the total population of the group was 2033 people, of which 93.8% were Australian Aborigines. In 2011, the population of the islands increased to 2579 people [1] . The main language of communication on the islands is Tiwi , then English .
The largest settlements are Nguiu (Bathurst Island), Pirlangimpi and Milikapiti (Melville Island).
Culture
The Tiwi Islands are known for their traditional culture, represented by numerous dances, songs and ceremonies.
Australian football is very popular on the islands (Tiwi has its own League).
Gallery
Ceremonial funeral posts on the islands
Island church
Carved Island Figures
Australian Football Game on the Tiwi Islands
See also
- List of Australia Islands
Links
Notes
- ↑ Census QuickStats: Tiwi Islands Australian Bureau of Statistics (August 9, 2011). Date of treatment September 5, 2012. Archived October 19, 2012.