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Archipelago

    Arafura SeaAustralia

    11°30′S 136°25′E

    Wessel Islands

    The Wessel Islands is a group of uninhabited islands in the Northern Territory of Australia. They extend in a more or less straight line from Buckingham Bay and the Napier Peninsula of Arnhem Land, and Elcho Island, to the northeast. Marchinbar Island is the largest of the group.

    Geocover 2000 sat image of Elcho Island, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia
    Geocover 2000 sat image of Elcho Island, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia

    NASA / Public domain

    Chart

    7 landforms

    Overview

    The Wessel Islands is a group of uninhabited islands in the Northern Territory of Australia. They extend in a more or less straight line from Buckingham Bay and the Napier Peninsula of Arnhem Land, and Elcho Island, to the northeast. Marchinbar Island is the largest of the group. Other islands include Elcho Island, Rimbija Island (the most outlying island), Guluwuru, Raragala, Stevens Island, Burgunngura, Djeergaree, Yargara, Drysdale Island, Jirrgari Island, Graham Island, Alger Island, Abbott Island, and Howard Island. Bumaga Island and Warnawi Island, both part of the Wessel Islands group, are also part of the Cunningham Islands.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Census, cataloged

    • Major islands2
    • Minor islands2
    • Islets3
    • Rocks & skerries0

    Major islands

    2
    • Elcho Island

      Elcho Island

      Area
      282 km²
      High point
      53 m

      Elcho Island, known to its traditional owners as Galiwin'ku (Galiwinku) is an island off the coast of Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located at the southern end of the Wessel Islands group located in the East Arnhem Region.

    • Marchinbar Island

      Area
      211 km²
      High point
      74 m

      Marchinbar Island is the largest island in the Wessel Islands in the Northern Territory of Australia in the Arafura Sea.

    Minor islands

    2

    • Rimbija Island

      Area
      2.5 km²
      High point
      23 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.24 km²
      High point
      11 m

    Islets

    3
    • Unnamed island27 m · 0.05 km²
    • Unnamed island3 m · 0.04 km²
    • Unnamed island15 m · 1 ha

    Also in the area

    1

    Inside the group's outline but not confirmed as members by any source.

    • Unnamed island16 m · 0.6 km²

    Figures

    Comparative heights

    Sea level20 m40 m60 m80 m74 mMarchinbar53 mElcho23 mRimbija
    High points by island, metres above sea level.

    Islands by area

    0.0010.010.11101001,000Elcho: 282 km²ElchoMarchinbar: 211 km²MarchinbarRimbija: 2.5 km²RimbijaUnnamed island: 0.6 km²Unnamed islandUnnamed island: 0.24 km²Unnamed islandUnnamed island: 0.05 km²Unnamed islandUnnamed island: 0.04 km²Unnamed islandUnnamed island: 1 haUnnamed island
    km², log scale
    Elcho Island282 km²
    Marchinbar Island211 km²
    Rimbija Island2.5 km²
    Unnamed island0.6 km²
    Unnamed island0.24 km²
    Unnamed island0.05 km²
    Unnamed island0.04 km²
    Unnamed island1 ha

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Wikidata
    • Talus
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs