There are two main annual climatic divisions in the Northern Territory- wet season from November to April and the dry season from May to October. Changes in weather are uniform and regular and nearly all rain falls in the summer monthes.Darwin is very humid in the summer. The average annual temperature is 27.5C and rainfall is a high 1658mm.Further south around Alice Springs temperature averages 20.8C and the annual rainfall is only about 286mm.
  The area of the Northern Territory is 1 346 000 sq km, about one-sixth of the total of Australia. Most of this area lies north of the Tropic of Capricorn.The low flat coastline which extends for 6200 km seldom reaches 30m in heigth and sandy beaches and mud flats predominate. The coastline is intersected by a number of rivers and indented with bays and inlets but Port Darwin is the only practical deepwater port.Despite its vast size the total population of the Northern Territory is estimated at only 158 000. Of these, almost half live in the capital city, Darwin, and a further 22 000 people live in Alice Springs, located at almost the geographical centre of Australia.