Gulf, northeastern Australia.
An inlet of the Arafura Sea, it is bordered by the Northern Territory and by Cape York Peninsula and extends north-south about 480 mi (770 km) and east-west 400 mi (645 km). It was explored by the Dutch 160528; its western coasts were discovered by Abel Janszoon Tasman in 1644. Neglected for centuries, it became economically significant in the late 20th century for its bauxite and manganese deposits and for its prawn-rich waters.