The Gulf of Carpentaria is a sea off the northern coast of Australia, surrounded by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the eastern Arafura Sea. It's about 300,000 square kilometers in size and hosts a diverse ecosystem with fringing reefs, coral colonies, and extensive seagrass beds. The region has a hot and humid climate with two distinct seasons: a dry season from April to November and a wet season from December to March. The Gulf supports various industries like commercial shrimp operations, mining of zinc, lead, and silver, and a thriving cattle industry. Additionally, it has historical significance as one of the first explored regions in Australia by European explorers like Willem Janszoon and Matthew Flinders.