Archer River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Archer |
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Archer River, Cape York
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 Location of Archer River mouth in Queensland
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| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | Far North Queensland |
| Settlement | Aurukun |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | McIlwraith Range north of Coen 138 m (453 ft) |
| River mouth | Gulf of Carpentaria Archer Bay 0 m (0 ft) 13°25′12″S 141°43′9″E / 13.42000°S 141.71917°E |
| Length | 268 km (167 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 13,820 km2 (5,340 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
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| National park | Mungkan Kandju National Park |
The Archer River is a long river in Queensland, Australia. It flows across the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland.
Contents
Journey of the River
The Archer River starts in the McIlwraith Range. From there, it flows west through wide, grassy plains and wetlands. These areas are like huge, watery fields. The river passes through the Piccaninny Plains Sanctuary and Mungkan Kandju National Park. Finally, it reaches Archer Bay and flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria. This is on the western side of the peninsula, close to the town of Aurukun. Other rivers like the Watson River and the Ward River also join the Gulf nearby.
River's Water Area
The area of land that collects water for the Archer River is called its catchment area. This area is about 13,820 square kilometers. During the wet season, which is from November to April, the river gets very full. It floods, which helps to fill up over a million hectares of wetlands. The Coen River is a smaller river that flows into the Archer River.
Protecting the River
The Archer River is mostly in its natural state. There isn't much building or development along its banks. There is only one small dam that provides water for the town of Coen. In 2009, the Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, announced that the Archer River would be protected. This means the river's delicate natural areas will be kept safe. Only activities that don't harm the environment are allowed in its catchment area.
Amazing Plants and Animals
Many parts of the Archer River are lined with special rainforests. These forests are full of fig trees. They are a perfect home for many animals. You might find the white-tailed rat, the spotted cuscus, and the palm cockatoo here. The river itself is home to Toothless catfish.
Fish in the River
Scientists have found 45 different types of fish in the Archer River! Some of these include:
- Glassfish
- Barred grunter
- Silver Cobbler
- Fly-specked hardyhead
- Mouth almighty
- Goby
- Barramundi
- Oxeye herring
- Eastern rainbowfish
- Bony bream
- Gulf saratoga
- Giant gudgeon
- Seven-spot archerfish
River's Past
The original people of this land are the Indigenous Australians. They are the Wik peoples, Kaantju and Wikampama peoples. They have lived here for a very long time.
How the River Got its Name
The Archer River was named in 1865. Two explorers, Francis Lascelles Jardine and Alexander Jardine, named it during their journey. They named it after the Archer brothers from Gracemere, near Rockhampton. Before that, the river might have had other names. It could have been called Dubbelde Ree by Willem Jansz in 1606. Later, Jan Carstensz might have named it Coen River in 1623. Then, in 1879, Robert Logan Jack called it Peach River.
