Northern Territory

Northern Territory, north-central region of Australia. Controlled first by New South Wales and then South Australia, it was granted self-government in 1978. Nearly a quarter of the territory is reservation land, home of the Aborigines, Australia's native people. Darwin, on the coast, is the capital and largest city. Numerous cattle and sheep ranches are in the dry interior. Mining, tourism, and pearling are important industries.

See also: Australia.