Vernon Islands

Vernon Islands

Native name: Potinga Islands [1]: 2
Satellite image of the Vernon Islands, 2019
Vernon Islands
Etymology	Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt[2]
Geography
Location	Clarence Strait
Coordinates	12°05′00″S 131°02′00″E / 12.0833°S 131.0333°E / -12.0833; 131.0333 [2]
Adjacent to	Clarence Strait
Total islands	3
Major islands	East Vernon Island North West Vernon Island South West Vernon Island
Highest elevation	4 m (13 ft)[1]: 2
Administration
Australia
Territory	Northern Territory
Locality	Vernon Islands[3]
Demographics
Population	0 (2016)[4]

Vernon Islands, also known as the Potinga Islands, is an island group in the Northern Territory of Australia located in the Clarence Strait about 55 kilometres (34 mi) north-east of the territory capital of Darwin. The group consists of three islands which were first sighted by Europeans in 1818 on a British navy ship under the command of Phillip Parker King. The group were part of the subject of a successful aboriginal land claim which was resolved after 40 years in 2018 when the Tiwi people received title. All three islands host navigation aids which assist vessels passing through the Clarence Strait. It and some adjoining seabed have had protected area status since 1974 and which has been known as the Vernon Islands Conservation Reserve since 1979. Since 2007, the island group has been located in the locality of Vernon Islands.