Aerial Outback

Aerial Outback

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A river winds its way through the sand dunes of the Tanami Desert in Australia's Northern Territory.

Though over half of Australia lies above the Tropic of Capricorn, it is home to only five percent of the population. It is a sparse frontier land with little infrastructure, populated by cattle barons, crocodile hunters and aboriginal tribes.

. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray

The shadows of clouds are reflected in the sea along the coastline of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The frontrunner to become Australia's next prime minister, Tony Abbott, holds ambitious plans to develop the area, which geologists say has abundant diamond, gold and uranium reserves. However, a fifth of the Northern Territory is owned or controlled by aboriginal groups, many of whom have joined environmentalists opposing mining plans.

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Slideshow

A dirt road and winding river intersect in the rust coloured Tanami Desert.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray

A dirt road and winding river intersect in the rust coloured Tanami Desert.

Straight roads form a perfect square in the midst of the desert.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray

Straight roads form a perfect square in the midst of the desert.

Worn footpaths converge on a well.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray

Worn footpaths converge on a well.

A small lake lies amid sand dunes.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray

A small lake lies amid sand dunes.

Mining operations at a bauxite mine in Nhulunbuy, are seen from the air.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray

Mining operations at a bauxite mine in Nhulunbuy, are seen from the air.

A small river flows among sand dunes.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray

A small river flows among sand dunes.

A network of narrow creeks and small rivers trickle across the desert landscape.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray

A network of narrow creeks and small rivers trickle across the desert landscape.

Channels of water run across a beach on the coast of Arnhem Land.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray

Channels of water run across a beach on the coast of Arnhem Land.

A Boeing 767 casts its shadow on the sea.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray

A Boeing 767 casts its shadow on the sea.