page_title: North Queensland
section_title: Geography
hierarchical_section_title: North Queensland / Geography
caption_attribution_description: English: Panorama of Castle Hill from Mt Stuart
context_page_description: North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the Australian state of Queensland that lies just south of Far North Queensland. Queensland is a massive state, larger than many countries, and its tropical northern part has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and identity.
  Townsville is the largest urban centre in North Queensland, leading it to be regarded as an unofficial capital. The region has a population of 231,628 and covers 80,041.5 km².
context_section_description: There is no official boundary that separates North Queensland from the rest of the state. Unofficially it is usually considered to have a southern border beginning south of the Mackay Region southern boundary, but historically it has been as far south as Rockhampton.  To the north is the Far North Queensland region,  centred on Cairns and out west is the Gulf Country.
  A coastal region  centred on its largest settlement is the city of Townsville. The city is the location of a major seaport handling exports from mines in Mount Isa and cattle exports from coastal and inland areas. The region also contains a bulk sugar exporting terminal at Lucinda in the region's north. Mackay and the Burdekin region are Australia's sugar capital and produces the most sugar in Australia and is shipped at Mackay Harbour. Mackay is also one of Australia's biggest coal exporters as it is close to Queensland's major mines. Dalrymple Bay, south of Mackay is another port where coal and sugar is exported.  It also contains the inland city of Charters Towers and the coastal towns of Ayr and Ingham. The Burdekin is centred on the two towns of Ayr and Home Hill and while producing the largest amount of sugar, also produces seasonal fruit such as Lychees and Mangos in Summer/wet season.
  Other communities in North Queensland include Home Hill, Sarina, Bowen, Ayr, and Proserpine.  Abbot Point, north of Bowen, is a large, coal exporting port undergoing significant expansion.
caption: Suburbs of Townsville around Castle Hill
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