Groote Eylandt

From Free net encyclopedia

Groote Eylandt is the largest island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in northeastern Australia. It lies some 50 km from the Northern Territory mainland and eastern coast of Arnhem Land (approximately 630 km from Darwin). The island measures approximately 50 km from east to west and 60 km north—south, a total area of some 2,260 km². It is generally quite low-lying, with an average height above sea level of 15 m. Its geographic coordinates are Template:Coor d. It was named by the explorer Jan Carstensz in 1623 and is Dutch for "Big Island", in a now-archaic spelling.

The island belongs to the Anindilyakwa Aboriginal people, and is part of the Arnhem Land Aboriginal Reserve. GEMCO, a BHP subsidiary, operates a large manganese mine near the community of Angurugu, paying royalties to the traditional owners. In operation since the early 1960s, it has a yearly production of more than 2 million tonnes, which is about 10 percent of the world's total. Otherwise, the island is open to the public only with permission, and the local Aboriginal Land Council has not encouraged tourism. In general, a permit issued by the Anindilyakwa Land Council office is required in order to visit the island.

Groote Eylandt was first sighted by Europeans in 1623, by the Dutch ship Arnhem, under Willem van Coolsteerdt. However, it was not until 1644, when Tasman arrived, that the island was named. The first European settlement on the island was established at Emerald River in 1921, in the form of an Anglican church mission. During World War II, in 1943, the mission moved to Angurugu, as the RAAF required the use of the mission's airstrip. The ruins of the RAAF base are still evident today. The island was also used as a flying boat base by QANTAS for a period of time. In 1979, control of the island was handed over to the local Aboriginal Town Council.