Staaten River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Staaten |
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 Location of the Staaten River mouth in Queensland
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| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | Far North Queensland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Great Dividing Range west of Torwood 220 m (720 ft) 17°15′32″S 143°30′44″E / 17.25889°S 143.51222°E |
| River mouth | Gulf of Carpentaria 16°23′35″S 141°17′39″E / 16.39306°S 141.29417°E |
| Length | 383 km (238 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 25,732 km2 (9,935 sq mi) |
| National park | Staaten River National Park |
The Staaten River is a long river found in Far North Queensland, Australia. It flows through a wild and beautiful area, eventually emptying into the Gulf of Carpentaria. This river is super important for many animals and plants, especially during the wet and dry seasons.
Contents
Where is the Staaten River?
The Staaten River starts on the western side of the Great Dividing Range. This is about 200 kilometres (120 mi) west of Cairns. The river then flows mostly northwest, passing through the Staaten River National Park. It continues west, joined by eleven smaller rivers called tributaries. Finally, it reaches its mouth and flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The River's Journey
As the river travels, its waters spread out into many connected lagoons. These lagoons create a huge wetland area. This wetland is a safe home for lots of unique wildlife and plants. The river drops about 220 metres (720 ft) over its 383 kilometres (238 mi) journey.
During the wet season, when it rains a lot, the Staaten River floods its banks. This fills up the floodplains and wetlands. But when the rains stop, the river shrinks. It becomes a small stream flowing over wide sand banks. Many important lagoons remain, acting as safe places for animals.
Life Around the River
There isn't much building or farming along the Staaten River. Most of the land is used for grazing cattle. There are no big dams or water storage places on the river. You can travel by boat about 17 kilometres (11 mi) upstream before you find sand and rock bars. There's a small cattle farm called Dinah Island about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) inland. Sometimes, people who love fishing can stay there for a short time.
Why is the Staaten River Special?
The Staaten River area is one of Australia's last truly wild places. There's not much farming, few roads, and lots of healthy forests and wildlife. This makes it a very special river system. It stretches across both the Cape York Peninsula and the Gulf Country regions.
Wildlife and Wetlands
The river system is known for its amazing fishing. You can find fish like saratoga and barramundi here. It's also home to saltwater crocodiles, which are famous Australian animals.
During the wet season, many waterbirds gather here. They come from all over Australia, and even from places as far away as China and Russia! These birds live in the rich waters of places like the huge Inkerman-Gilbrath Wetland, which is near the river's mouth.
The coastal part of the Staaten River is part of a bigger wetland system called the Southeast Karumba Plan. This is Queensland's best-developed coastal wetland. It provides important homes and breeding grounds for birds, fish, and other native animals. The Staaten River National Park, which covers about 467,000 hectares (1,150,000 acres), is one of Australia's biggest and most remote national parks.
Protecting the Wild River
The Staaten Wild River Area covers about 25,700 square kilometres (9,900 sq mi) at the western base of Cape York Peninsula. This area includes the Staaten River and many of its tributaries. The main goal of calling it a "wild river" is to make sure that any future building or development in the area doesn't harm its natural beauty and wildlife.
What Challenges Does the River Face?
Because the Staaten River is so far away, not many people need to take water from it right now. However, there are still some challenges.
Cattle Grazing and Weeds
The main challenge is cattle grazing. If cattle aren't managed carefully, they can cause the soil to wash away (erosion). They can also trample plants and pollute the river. There are also some unwanted plants, called invasive weeds, like rubber-vine, growing in the Staaten River area.
Working Towards Solutions
To help with these problems, there are "Wild River protection" plans in place. There's also an Indigenous Wild River Ranger program. These efforts help to protect the river and its environment.
Who are the Traditional Owners?
The traditional owners of the upper part of the river are the Kunjen peoples.
The Agwamin, Kutjar, Koknar, Kunjen, and Kokoberrin people are the traditional owners of the entire Staaten River area. They have strong cultural and spiritual connections to the land and rivers. Their traditional ecological knowledge and the health of their communities are very important for keeping this wild river system healthy.
How Did the River Get Its Name?
The Staaten River was first named by a Dutch sea explorer named Jan Carstenszoon in 1623. He named it after the States General, which was the parliament (or government) of the Netherlands at that time.
