Groote Eylandt, << groot Y luhnd, >> is an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, in northern Australia. It is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) long and 30 miles (48 kilometers) wide. It has a number of well-wooded hills, including Central Hill, which rises to a height of 600 feet (183 meters) above sea level. Manganese ore is mined on the island.
The island’s name means big island in Dutch. The Dutch navigator Abel Tasman named the island as he passed between the Australian mainland and Groote Eylandt during his voyage of 1644. Groote Eylandt is now recognized as Aboriginal land and is owned by the Anindilyakwa people. This ownership was recognized in the last quarter of the 1900’s. In 2006, Groote Eylandt was declared an Indigenous Protected Area.
