Finniss River (Northern Territory) facts for kids
The Finniss River is a cool river in the Northern Territory of Australia. It flows south of a big city called Darwin. The river winds its way west through the beautiful Litchfield National Park before reaching the sea at Fog Bay. Long ago, in the 1970s, a part of the river called the East Branch faced some environmental challenges because of a mine nearby called Rum Jungle.
Traditional Owners
The Finniss River area is very special to several Aboriginal groups. The Kungarakan, Warai, and Maranunggu peoples are the traditional owners of these lands. They have lived here for thousands of years and have a deep connection to the river and its surroundings. A respected elder named Alyandabu from the Kungarakan people was born near the Finniss River.
How the River Got Its Name
The Finniss River was named by an explorer named Frederick Litchfield. He named it after Colonel Boyle Travers Finniss. Colonel Finniss was an important person who helped manage the Northern Territory back in 1864.
Amazing Wildlife
The Finniss River is a fantastic place for fishing! It's famous for a very popular and tasty fish called the Barramundi. People love to catch them here.
The river was also once home to a very large saltwater crocodile named Sweetheart. This crocodile was about 17 feet long! Sweetheart lived in the river until July 1979. After Sweetheart passed away, the crocodile was preserved. You can now see Sweetheart on display in Darwin at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
