Fitzmaurice River

Coordinates: 14°49′29″S 129°50′10″E / 14.82472°S 129.83611°E / -14.82472; 129.83611
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Fitzmaurice
mouth in the Northern Territory
EtymologyLewis Roper Fitzmaurice
Location
CountryAustralia
TerritoryNorthern Territory
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationWombungi, Australia
 • elevation181 m (594 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, Australia
 • coordinates
14°49′29″S 129°50′10″E / 14.82472°S 129.83611°E / -14.82472; 129.83611
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length276 km (171 mi)
Basin size10,375 km2 (4,006 sq mi)
[1]

The Fitzmaurice River is a river in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Course

The river drains into the

Wadeye
.

The estuary formed at the river mouth is tidal in nature and in near pristine condition.[2]

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.[3] The river has a mean annual outflow of 1,600 gigalitres (2.093×109 cu yd).[4]

Fauna

A total of 16 species of fish are found in the river including the

mouth almighty, spangled perch, barramundi, oxeye herring, rainbowfish, exquisite rainbowfish, northern trout gudgeon, bony bream, catfish, and the seven-spot archerfish.[5]

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.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Map of Fitzmaurice River, NT". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Australian Catchment, River and Estuary Assessment" (PDF). Natural Heritage Trust. 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  3. Commonwealth of Australia. 2005. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Fitzmaurice River" (PDF). TRaCK. 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Fitzmaurice River catchment". Fish Atlas of North Australia. Retrieved 23 May 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fitzmaurice_River&oldid=1216037573"