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The Burarra People

Burarra land in the Top End of the Northern Territory

Burarra land in the Top End of the Northern Territory. Map by Questacon.

The Burarra (‘bur-ah-da’) people live in the central north Arnhem Land region of Australia.

The land of the Burarra people is about 50 km (31 mi) by air, or 120 km (75 mi) by road east of Maningrida township, and about 530 km (330 mi) east of Darwin.

It lies 12° south of the Equator on the floodplains and estuaries of the Blythe and Cadell Rivers. The area includes savannah grasslands, eucalyptus rain forest and tidal mud flats. This tropical region has a wet–dry monsoonal climate.

Burarra is one of the many languages spoken in central north Arnhem Land. It consists of several dialects: Martay Burarra, Maringa Burarra, Anbarra Burarra, Gun-nartpa and Gorragorrni. Between 400 and 600 people speak Burarra today.