cluster of barren sandstone islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria, near the mouth of the McArthur River, in northeastern Northern Territory, Australia. The islands have a total area of 800 square miles (2,100 square km). Vanderlin, the largest, is 20 miles (32 km) long by 8 miles (13 km) wide. Reached in 1644 by the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, the island was thought to be part of the mainland and was named Cape Vanderlin. The explorer Matthew Flinders (Flinders, Matthew) in 1802 proved Vanderlin an island, and he named the group after Captain Edward Pellew (later Admiral Viscount Exmouth) of the Royal Navy. Other islands are North, South West, Centre, and West. Mount Isa Mines Limited, operators of the silver, lead, and zinc mine at McArthur River, have developed an ore export facility at West Island.