Where is the Gulf of Carpentaria and what are its features? I would like to touch on this topic to our article. Let's start from the beginning.
What is this water area? This is not a very deep bay of the Indian Ocean. Its area covers an area of about 300 thousand square meters. km Where is the Gulf of Carpentaria located? And it is located on the northern shores of Australia. Deepens into the mainland for more than 600 km. The bay is connected with the Arafura Sea. It also has access to the Coral Sea through the Torresov Strait .
Characteristic
The first thing to note: this area belongs to mainland Australia. The Gulf of Carpentaria covers an area of about 328 thousand square meters. km Its shelf is 900 km long. Almost 700 km crashes into the Australian mainland. As we have already said, the bay is relatively shallow, average values reach 40-60 m. The deepest zone has a mark of about 70 m.
Tides in the Carpentaria are irregular in nature, are semidiurnal. Their height varies within 3-4 meters. Significant tidal flows are observed near the coastal lines of the bay. Islands of the water area: Wellesley and Groot Island, seaports: Weipa, Groot Island, Mission.
Hydrological and climatic conditions
Given that the Gulf of Carpentaria is located in the Indian Sea, the climate is monsoon, with tropical rains. As a rule, most of the precipitation falls between December and March. The weather here is mostly sultry and humid. During the rainy season, the main water stream enters the bay from the rivers of the southern and eastern coasts. Salinity at the end of the dry season is higher, after which it decreases (34.8 ‰).
The dry season lasts from April to November. During this period, dry southeastern and eastern air currents prevail. The rainy season opens in December, it lasts until March. It is characterized by the fact that during this period lowlands are filled. Tropical typhoons last from November to April. Observed on average 3 times a year. The average water temperature in summer is +29 o C, in winter +24 o C. The rainfall is 1570 mm. Relative humidity in the dry season is 30%, in the rainy period - 70%.
Fauna
Inherent in the fauna of this region are representatives of low-organized mammals, marsupials and monotremes. The latter are the platypus and the echidna. In Australia, there are generally more than 150 marsupial breeds. Of these, predatory species, marsupial bears and moles, kangaroos have survived these days. Higher mammals appear as bats and some types of terrestrial mice.
Carpentaria Bay is a great habitat for many birds, reptiles and reptiles. Of the birds known: lyrebirds, cassowary, birds of paradise, parrots. Of the reptiles, a significant population of crocodiles, tree frogs, poisonous snakes, lizards. Here lives a moloch lizard, which has spike-like outgrowths that absorb moisture, which helps it survive in drought.
Moist forests are characterized by climbing species such as koalas. A platypus lives along the rivers. In tropical forests you can meet arthropods: endemic ants, butterflies. In the north, earthworms live, the length of which reaches several meters. Waterfowl live on the rivers. Only here you can find such ancient forms of ichthyofauna as hornfish. In areas with an abundance of grass, several species of marsupials, for example, wallaby kangaroos, live. Echidna is considered a local endemic. Of the harmful insects, locusts, mosquitoes, mosquitoes are common.
Flora
Carpentaria Bay on the coastline is not deprived of vegetation. Here, mainly dry-loving species are found: cereals, eucalyptus trees, umbrella acacias, representatives with special fabric for storing water, such as a bottle tree. Southern beech, ficus, pandanus also grow. Thanks to the northwest monsoons that bring moisture, this area is covered in tropical forests with giant eucalyptus trees, ficuses, palm trees. On flat and silt shores, mangrove vegetation is found. To the south, forest cover is gradually decreasing. Horsetails and ferns sprout here, the height of which reaches 20 meters. Many European cultures were brought here, which perfectly adapted: grapes, cotton. Wheat, oats, rice, corn, as well as vegetables and fruits, grow well from cereals.
Economy
Manganese supplies on Grunt Island account for a quarter of the world's fishing. Here are rich mines of lead, silver. McArthur zinc deposits are reputable on a global scale. The settlement of Weipa is famous for bauxites. In the field of agriculture, cattle breeding is quite developed. A developed industrial sector is fish production.
Carpentaria Bay is famous for salmon resources, oyster fishing, shrimp fishing. Passenger traffic is at the development stage, and the region is a leader in the field of sea freight transportation. Tourists from all over the world come here for extreme tourism, including underwater fishing.
Memorable places
- On the Arnhem Land Peninsula, Kakadu Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The rainforests and savannahs of Cape York, which did not lose their pristine beauty, surprise visitors with their natural beauty.
Interesting events
From the beginning of September to October in the early morning hours, the Gulf of Carpentaria will surprise you with the natural morning cloud “Morning Gloria”. The phenomenon is accompanied by gusts of wind and pressure surges.
The Flinders River flows into the bay, which is named after the explorer of the continent.
Grunt Island is the largest island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Representatives of the Anindilyakva tribe have long lived here. Being on the island is permitted only with the permission of the local authorities. To resolve the production of manganese in copies, you need to pay money. The local population of Grunt Island has an amazing vocabulary. There are no words or gestures in it to indicate numbers greater than 20.