Carpentaria, Gulf

Carpentaria, Gulf of

Gulf, northeastern Australia. An inlet of the Arafura Sea, it is bordered by the Northern Territory and by Cape York Peninsula and extends north-south about 375 mi (600 km) and east-west 310 mi (500 km). It was explored by the Dutch 1605–28; its western coasts were discovered by Abel Janszoon Tasman in 1644. Neglected for centuries, it became economically significant from the late 20th century for its bauxite and manganese deposits and for its prawn-rich waters.