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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. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray
A dirt road and winding river intersect in the rust coloured Tanami Desert.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray
Straight roads form a perfect square in the midst of the desert.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray
Worn footpaths converge on a well.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray
A small lake lies amid sand dunes.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray
Mining operations at a bauxite mine in Nhulunbuy, are seen from the air.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray
A small river flows among sand dunes.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray
A network of narrow creeks and small rivers trickle across the desert landscape.
. DARWIN, Australia. REUTERS/David Gray
Channels of water run across a beach on the coast of Arnhem Land.