Port Hedland, town in northwestern Australia, on the Indian Ocean, in the state of Western Australia. Located north of the Hamersley Range and west of the De Grey River, Port Hedland is a large and busy port, shipping minerals from reserves in the surrounding Pilbara region, especially from Mount Goldsworthy. Iron has been mined locally since the 1960s, and in the mid-1990s Port Hedland shipped up to 52 million metric tons of iron ore from its port each year. The port has expanded from its island docks to docks on the mainland. Tin and manganese have been extensively exploited throughout the 20th century, and Port Hedland also produces salt. Port Hedland is near the intersection of the Great Northern and North West Coastal highways; it is connected to nearby mining centers by rail.
In 1863 British navigator Peter Hedland explored the area around Port Hedland. In 1863 it was settled as a pearling center, exploiting the rich oyster pearl beds offshore. The port developed later and was settled in 1896, with the discovery of the Pilbara goldfields and the development of local railways. Population (1996) 12,846.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Port Hedland Information info
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