BARKLY TABLELAND

region of Australia, south of the Gulf of Carpentaria and extending southeastward about 350 mi (560 km) from Newcastle Creek, Northern Territory, to Camooweal, Queen. A grassy, undulating upland (average altitude 1,000 ft ), nourished by subartesian water and seasonal water courses, it embraces an area of about 50,000 sq mi (130,000 sq km). Cattle are bred on large open ranges. Visited in 1845 by Ludwig Leichhardt, it was named by William Landsborough in honour of Sir Henry Barkly, governor of Victoria (185663). It is crossed (eastwest) by the Barkly Highway.