KALA LAGAW
YA has 3,000 to 4,000 fluent speakers in the Western Torres Strait
Islands. Stretching approximately 150km between the northern most tip of
Australia and the south coast of Papua New Guinea, the dazzling turquoise
waters of the Torres Strait are dotted with over 100 islands as well as coral
cays, exposed sandbanks and reefs.
The Strait's overall population of 8000, of which approximately 6000 are
Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal people, is dispersed throughout 19 small
island communities. The communities are all remote, approximately 1000km from
the nearest city and each has a population between 80 and 750.
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