Cape York Peninsula

Cape York Peninsula, peninsula in north Queensland, Australia, bordered on the west by the Gulf of Carpentaria and on the east by the Coral Sea. The Cape York Peninsula is cone-shaped and is the northernmost point of the Australian mainland. Only the Torres Strait separates it from Papua New Guinea. The peninsula extends north for about 800 km (500 mi) from the city of Cairns, the southern gateway to the region, and is about 645 km (400 mi) wide at its base. It has a population of 15,000, half of whom are Aborigines or Torres Strait Islanders. Most of the peninsula is low-lying. The highest elevations are in the Great Dividing Range, which runs along the eastern side. The vegetation is diverse and includes patches of rainforest along the eastern coast, as well as extensive tropical grasslands, heathlands, and mangrove swamps. The main rivers are the Mitchell and the Gilbert, which empty into the Gulf of Carpentaria. The northern half of Cape York is largely undeveloped. Economic activities in the peninsula include bauxite mining at Weipa, tin mining, and cattle grazing. Tourism is also important. Cape York has nine national parks which are each larger than 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres). Cape York has abundant wildlife; 40 species of mammals are found in the rainforest areas.