kids encyclopedia robot

Fitzmaurice River facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Fitzmaurice
Fitzmaurice River is located in Northern Territory
Fitzmaurice River
Location of the Fitzmaurice River mouth in the Northern Territory
Country Australia
Territory Northern Territory
Physical characteristics
Main source Wombungi, Australia
181 m (594 ft)
River mouth Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, Australia
0 m (0 ft)
14°49′29″S 129°50′10″E / 14.82472°S 129.83611°E / -14.82472; 129.83611
Length 276 km (171 mi)
Basin features
Basin size 10,375 km2 (4,006 sq mi)

The Fitzmaurice River is a river in Australia's Northern Territory.

Course

The river drains into the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf in the Timor Sea from a source just north of the Wombungi homestead. The river flows in a westerly direction between the Wingate mountains to the north and the Yamberra Mountains to the south. The area is quite remote and largely unsettled, and the river itself forms the southern boundary of the township of Wadeye.

The estuary formed at the river mouth is tidal in nature and in near pristine condition.

Catchment

The drainage basin occupies an area of 10,375 square kilometres (4,006 sq mi) and is wedged between the catchment areas for Victoria River to the south and Moyle River to the north. The river has a mean annual outflow of 1,600 gigalitres (2.093×109 cu yd),

Fauna

A total of 16 species of fish are found in the river including; the glassfish, Macleay's glassfish, fork-talked catfish, fly-specked hardyhead, mouth almighty, spangled perch, barramundi, oxeye herring, rainbowfish, exquisite rainbowfish, Northern trout gudgeon, bony bream, catfish, and the seven-spot archerfish.

A large number of crocodiles—both saltwater and fresh—inhabit the river. Wild cattle and bush pigs can be found in the surrounding countryside.

History

It was first charted in 1839 by European explorers aboard HMS Beagle under the command of John Lort Stokes. It was named after Lewis Roper Fitzmaurice, a mate and assistant surveyor on Beagle.

In 1977, Australian bushman Rodney Ansell was stuck for months on the river, after his boat capsized in the estuary and he ventured upstream for a source of fresh water.

kids search engine
Fitzmaurice River Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.