Moyle River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moyle |
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 Location of the Moyle River mouth in the Northern Territory
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| Country | Australia |
| Territory | Northern Territory |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | 342 m (1,122 ft) |
| River mouth | Hyland Bay Australia 0 m (0 ft) 13°58′31″S 129°44′41″E / 13.97528°S 129.74472°E |
| Length | 133 km (83 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 7,085 km2 (2,736 sq mi) |
The Moyle River is an important river located in the Northern Territory of Australia. It stretches for about 133 kilometers (83 miles) and is home to many different plants and animals.
Contents
Journey of the Moyle River
The Moyle River begins high up in a flat area near the Wingate Mountains. It flows mostly towards the northwest through quiet, untouched lands. The river passes through a narrow valley and then spreads out across the Moyle Plain.
Finally, it empties into Hyland Bay, which is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) northeast of Port Keats. From Hyland Bay, its waters join the larger Timor Sea.
Floodplain and Estuary Areas
Along Hyland Bay, there's a large flat area called a floodplain. This area, covering about 801 square kilometers (309 square miles), is formed by the Moyle River and the smaller Little Moyle River. During certain seasons, this land gets covered with water, creating grasslands and areas with paperbark trees.
Closer to the river's mouth, you'll find mangrove forests. These special trees grow in salty water along the river, creeks, and channels. The area where the river meets the sea is called an estuary. The Moyle River's estuary is very clean and natural. It has a tidal delta, which is a fan-shaped landform created by the river's flow and ocean tides.
River Tributaries
The Moyle River has only one main tributary, which is a smaller stream or river that flows into it. This tributary is called Tom Turners Creek.
River Catchment Area
The Moyle River's catchment area is the entire region where water collects and flows into the river. This area covers about 7,085 square kilometers (2,736 square miles). It is located between the Daly River catchment to the north and the Fitzmaurice River catchment to the south. Each year, about 640 gigaliters (170 billion US gallons) of water flow out of this catchment.
Amazing River Animals
The Moyle River is full of life! A total of 25 different kinds of fish live in its waters. Some of these interesting fish include:
- Sailfin Glassfish
- Barred Grunter
- Sooty Grunter
- Fly-specked Hardyhead
- Empire Gudgeon
- Northern Trout Gudgeon
- Pennyfish
- Barramundi
- Oxeye Herring
- Western Rainbowfish
- Black-banded Rainbowfish
- Bony Bream
- Black Catfish
- Short-finned Catfish
- Seven-spot Archerfish
- Primitive Archerfish
History of the Moyle River
The land around the Moyle River has been home to Aboriginal peoples for thousands of years. The traditional owners of this area are the Maringar, Nanggikorongo, and Magatige peoples. The river itself was given its name in the 1930s, named after another Aboriginal group who lived in the region at that time.
