Torres Strait Islands

The Torres Strait Islands are in the sea.

They sit between Australia and New Guinea. There are at least 274 small islands here.

Most of these islands have no people on them. Only 17 islands have people living there. Many people are Torres Strait Islanders. They are a special group of people. Some islands have tall hills. Other islands are low and flat. You might see sea turtles in the water. It is a very busy place for sea life.

The Torres Strait Islands are a group of many islands.

There are at least 274 small islands in this area. They sit in a waterway called the Torres Strait. This water separates Australia from the island of New Guinea.

Many islands are low and flat. Some islands are made of mud and sand. These islands sit near the coast of New Guinea. Other islands have tall, steep hills. These hills are made of hard rock called granite. Long ago, these islands were part of a big land bridge. The sea rose and covered the land. Now, only the highest peaks stay above the water.

Only 17 of these islands have people living on them. Most people are Torres Strait Islanders. They have their own special culture.

The sea is full of life here. You might see sea turtles swimming in the water. You could also see dugongs. These are sea mammals that live in warm waters.

Many people live on or near Thursday Island.

The islands are a very special place in the ocean.

The Torres Strait Islands are a large group of at least 274 small islands.

They sit in a waterway called the Torres Strait. This water separates the Cape York Peninsula in Australia from the island of New Guinea. The islands are very special because they sit on what used to be a land bridge. Long ago, this land connected Australia and New Guinea together. When sea levels rose at the end of the last ice age, the water covered the land. Many of the islands we see today are actually the highest peaks of that old land bridge.

Nature is very busy in these waters. The islands and reefs are home to many different living things. You might see saltwater crocodiles on the islands. In the ocean, you can find sea turtles like the green or hawksbill kinds. There are also dugongs, which are endangered sea mammals.

Many birds live here too. One bird, the Torresian imperial-pigeon, is a very important symbol for the islanders. The islands are grouped into five clusters. Some clusters have low islands made of mud and sand from rivers. Other islands have steep hills made of hard granite rock.

People have lived in these islands for a very long time. The indigenous Torres Strait Islanders live there today. They have a culture that is different from Aboriginal Australians. Most of the people are Melanesian.

In 2016, there were 4,514 people living in the islands. Only 17 of the 274 islands have people living on them. Most of these people live in places like Thursday Island.

The islands are mostly part of the Australian state of Queensland. However, a few islands near New Guinea belong to Papua New Guinea.

History in the islands has changed many times. A Spanish explorer named Luís Vaez de Torres sailed these waters in 1606. Later, in 1770, James Cook claimed part of the area for Britain. By the 1860s, a big business for pearl shells began. People used the shells to make decorations. By the 1890s, these islands provided more than 50 percent of the world's pearl shells. In 1871, missionaries arrived on Erub island. The islanders call the arrival of these missionaries "The Coming of the Light." They still celebrate this event every year on July 1st.

Law and land have been important parts of island life. In 1978, a treaty was signed between Australia and Papua New Guinea. This treaty helped decide the maritime boundary in the middle of the strait. A very famous event happened in 1982 called the Mabo Case. Eddie Mabo and four other people went to court to prove they owned their land. In 1992, the High Court of Australia agreed with them. This ruling changed how land ownership works in Australia. It proved that indigenous people had rights to their land even before the islands were taken by the government.

The Torres Strait Islands are an archipelago of at least 274 small islands.

They are located in the Torres Strait waterway. This strait separates the Cape York Peninsula of Australia from the island of New Guinea. The islands occupy a large area, but the total land area is much smaller. These islands are home to the indigenous Torres Strait Islander peoples. They are ethnically and culturally different from Aboriginal Australians because they are predominantly Melanesian. While most islands belong to the Australian state of Queensland, some near New Guinea belong to Papua New Guinea.

The geography of the islands is shaped by ancient changes in sea levels. Long ago, a land bridge called the Arafura Plain connected Australia and New Guinea. This landmass was part of a larger area known as Sahul. At the end of the last ice-age glaciation, roughly 12,000 years ago, sea levels rose. This rising water submerged the land bridge and created the Torres Strait. Many of the western islands are actually the remaining peaks of that submerged bridge. The islands are divided into five distinct clusters based on their location and geology.

These clusters show very different physical features. The Top Western islands sit very close to the New Guinea coast. Islands like Saibai and Boigu are low-lying. They formed from river sediments and mud that settled on decayed coral platforms. These areas often have mangrove swamps and can experience flooding. In contrast, Dauan is a smaller island with steep hills made of granite. Dauan is actually the northernmost part of the Great Dividing Range. This mountain range runs along the eastern coast of Australia. The Near Western islands also consist of high granite hills and basaltic outcrops.

The marine and land ecosystems in the strait are highly diverse. The waters and reefs provide habitats for many unique species. Saltwater crocodiles live on the islands and in nearby waters. The ocean is home to several types of sea turtles, including the green, ridley, hawksbill, and flatback turtles. You can also find the dugong, which is an endangered sea mammal. On land, the Torresian imperial-pigeon is an iconic bird for the islanders. The islands are part of the Cape York Platform province. This province is part of the larger East Australian Cordillera region.

History in the region involves many different explorers and industries. The Spanish explorer Luís Vaez de Torres sailed the strait in 1606. Later, in 1770, Lieutenant James Cook claimed the eastern part of Australia for Britain. British administrative control did not begin in the islands until 1862. This was marked by the appointment of John Jardine as Government Resident. In the 1860s, a major industry for pearl and trochus shells began. People used the mother of pearl for decorations. By the 1890s, the islands supplied more than 50 percent of the world's pearl shells.

Religious and social changes also shaped the islands. In 1871, the London Missionary Society arrived on Erub island. The islanders call the arrival of these missionaries "The Coming of the Light." They celebrate this event every year on July 1st. However, the 19th century also brought hardship. In 1875, a measles epidemic killed about 25 percent of the population. Some islands lost as much as 80 percent of their people. Later, in 1898 and 1899, the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition visited the islands. They collected about 2,000 cultural artefacts from the local people.

Legal battles have defined modern land rights for the islanders. In 1978, the Torres Strait Treaty was signed between Australia and Papua New Guinea. This treaty defined the maritime boundary through the center of the strait. In 1982, Eddie Mabo and four others began legal proceedings regarding land ownership. This became known as the Mabo Case. In 1992, the High Court of Australia ruled in their favor. The court found that the Mer people owned their land before annexation. This overturned the legal doctrine of terra nullius, which meant "no-one's land." This ruling had a massive impact on land claims across Australia.

Today, the islands are managed by several different groups. The Torres Strait Regional Authority was created in 1994. This is a statutory authority of the Australian federal government. In 2008, many local councils were merged into the Torres Strait Island Regional Council. This was done to help with financial viability and accountability. As of the 2016 census, the population was 4,514 people. About 91.8 percent of these residents identify as Torres Strait Islander. Only 17 of the 274 islands are actually inhabited by people.