Coleman River (Queensland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coleman |
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 Location of Coleman River mouth in Queensland
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| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | Far North Queensland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Great Dividing Range |
| River mouth | Gulf of Carpentaria south of Pormpuraaw, Cape York 0 m (0 ft) 15°04′20″S 141°38′59″E / 15.07222°S 141.64972°E |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Coleman River is an important river located in Far North Queensland, Australia. It flows across the Cape York Peninsula, a large area in the northern part of Queensland.
Contents
Journey of the Coleman River
The Coleman River begins where two smaller rivers, the Little Coleman River and the Big Coleman River, meet. This meeting point is near Lapunya Mount, which is part of the Great Dividing Range.
River's Path and Features
At first, the river flows south. It then turns west, passing by the Curlew Range and across the Boomerang Plain. Finally, it empties into the Gulf of Carpentaria. This happens between the mouth of the Mitchell River to the south and the town of Pormpuraaw to the north.
Along its journey, six smaller rivers, called tributaries, join the Coleman River. These include the King River and the Lukin River. The river flows for about 399-kilometre (248 mi) (248 miles). From its start to its end, it drops about 234 metres (768 ft) (768 feet) in height.
The River's Catchment Area
The area of land that drains water into the Coleman River is called its catchment. This catchment covers about 737.6 square kilometres (285 sq mi) (285 square miles). It includes the Edward River sub-basin.
Several small towns are found within this area. These include Bamboo, Edward River, Glen Garland, Strath-Haven, Strathgordon, Strathmay, and Yarraden. The Archer River drainage basin is to the north of the Coleman River's catchment. The Mitchell River Catchment is to the south. On average, about 520 gigalitres (680,100,000 cu yd) (137 billion gallons) of water flow through the Coleman River each year.
Fish Life in the River
The Coleman River is home to many different kinds of fish. Scientists have found 46 species living there! Some of these include:
- Sailfin glassfish
- Barred Grunter
- Shovel-nosed catfish
- Bigeye Trevelly
- Fly-specked hardyhead
- Golden Gudgeon
- Pennyfish
- Mouth Almighty
- Barramundi
- Oxeye herring
- Rainbowfish
- seven-spot archerfish
History of the Coleman River Area
The land around the Coleman River has a rich history.
Traditional Owners
For thousands of years, the Olkolo people, who are Aboriginal people, have lived in this river basin. Their culture and traditions are deeply connected to this land.
The Yir Yiront language is an Aboriginal language traditionally spoken in Western Cape York. Its traditional area includes the catchments of the Coleman River and the Mitchell River. Today, it is also spoken in Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama.
Naming the River
The Coleman River was named by an explorer named William Hann in 1872.
Recent History
Around the year 1900, people came to the area looking for gold. This led to difficult times and conflicts with the Olkola people.
More recently, between 2011 and 2014, the Olkola people worked to get their traditional lands back. Part of this land then became the Olkola National Park. This park helps protect the land and its history.
