Haughton River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Haughton |
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 Location of Haughton River mouth in Queensland
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| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | North Queensland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Leichhardt Range below Haughton Valley 173 m (568 ft) 19°49′40″S 146°38′06″E / 19.82778°S 146.63500°E |
| River mouth | Bowling Green Bay Coral Sea 0 m (0 ft) 19°23′25″S 147°07′51″E / 19.39028°S 147.13083°E |
| Length | 110 km (68 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 4,051 km2 (1,564 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
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| National park | Bowling Green Bay National Park |
The Haughton River is an important river located in North Queensland, Australia. It flows for about 110 kilometers (68 miles) through different landscapes. The river starts in the Leichhardt Range and ends in the Coral Sea, near Bowling Green Bay. It's home to many interesting plants and animals.
Contents
The Haughton River: A North Queensland Journey
The Haughton River begins its journey in the Haughton Valley. This valley is part of the Leichhardt Range mountains, close to a place called Mingela. From there, the river flows mostly towards the northeast.
Where Does the River Flow?
River's Path
Soon after it starts, the Haughton River crosses the Flinders Highway. It then travels between two mountains, Mount Prince Charles and Mount Norman. The river flows past Glendale before a smaller stream, Major Creek, joins it. The Haughton River then crosses the Bruce Highway just south of Giru.
River's Surroundings
The Haughton River eventually flows into the Bowling Green Bay National Park. This park is a special protected area. Finally, the river empties into Bowling Green Bay, which is south of Townsville and near Cungulla. From there, its waters join the vast Coral Sea.
The area where the river collects its water is called a catchment area. For the Haughton River, this area is about 4,051 square kilometers (1,564 square miles). A part of this area, about 316 square kilometers (122 square miles), is made up of estuary wetlands. These are places where fresh river water mixes with salty ocean water.
The flat areas around the river, called floodplains, also have valuable wetlands. Some parts of the Bowling Green Bay National Park are even listed as a Ramsar site. This means they are wetlands of international importance. While much of the land around the river is used for cattle grazing and growing sugarcane, a good portion, about 328 square kilometers (127 square miles), is protected.
What Lives in the Haughton River?
Amazing Fish Species
The Haughton River is full of life! Scientists have found 27 different kinds of fish living in its waters. Some of these cool fish include:
- Glassfish
- Pacific Short-finned Eel
- Blue catfish
- Milkfish
- Fly-specked hardyhead
- Mouth almighty
- Empire gudgeon
- Barred grunter
- Barramundi
- Oxeye herring
- Mangrove jack
- Eastern rainbowfish
- Bony bream
- Freshwater Longtom
- Seven-spot Archerfish
Why is it Called Haughton River?
Naming the River
The Haughton River got its name in 1861. It was named after Richard Houghton, who was a stockman (someone who works with livestock). His friend, an explorer and pastoralist (a person who raises livestock on a large scale) named James Cassady, chose the name.
Originally, it was spelled Houghton River. But in 1950, the Surveyor General (a government official in charge of land surveys) changed the spelling to its current form, Haughton River. This change was made because local people and the electoral office asked for it.
