Adelaide River
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Adelaide
| name_native =
| name_native_lang =
| name_other =
| name_etymology = Queen Adelaide
| image = Adelaide River.JPG
| image_size = 250px
| image_caption = The Adelaide River
| map =
| map_size = 250
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Australia Northern Territory
| pushpin_map_size = 250
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the Adelaide River mouth
in the Northern Territory
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = Australia
| subdivision_type2 = Territory
| subdivision_name2 = Northern Territory
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
| subdivision_type4 = LGA
| subdivision_name4 = Coomalie, Litchfield
| subdivision_type5 = Townships
| subdivision_name5 = Adelaide River
| length = {{convert|238|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location=
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|1980|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max =
| source1 =
| source1_location =
| source1_coordinates=
| source1_elevation = {{convert|149|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth = Adam Bay
| mouth_location = Clarence Strait
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|12|13|S|131|14|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|7640|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left =
| tributaries_right =
| custom_label = National park
| custom_data = Litchfield National Park
| extra = {{cite web|url=http://www.bonzle.com.au/c/a?a=p&p=210361&cmd=sp|title=Map of Adelaide River, NT|access-date=27 April 2015|work=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia}}
}}
The Adelaide River is a river in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Course and features
The river rises in the Litchfield National Park and flows generally northwards to Clarence Strait, joined by eight tributaries including the west branch of the Adelaide River, Coomalie Creek, Margaret River and Marrakai Creek, before discharging into its mouth in Adam Bay in the Clarence Strait. The river descends {{convert|151|m}} over its {{convert|238|km|adj=on}} course. The catchment area of the river is {{convert|7640|km2|sqmi|0}}.{{cite web|url=http://cstest1.communitystories.net/bitstream/handle/10070/228620/WRD02044.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Wetland monitoring for the Mary River Catchment, Northern Territory |author1=Bach, Christine |author2=Hosking, Jane |date=1 September 2002 |access-date=27 April 2015 |publisher=Natural Heritage Trust }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
The Adelaide River is crossed by both the Stuart Highway, adjacent to the township of Adelaide River, and the Arnhem Highway near Humpty Doo.
The Adelaide River is well known for its high concentration of saltwater crocodiles, along with other wildlife including white-bellied sea eagles, whistling kites, freshwater crocodiles, bull sharks and black flying-fox. Its lower reaches form part of the Adelaide and Mary River Floodplains Important Bird Area. Waters of this river are also home to endangered speartooth shark and critically endangered largetooth sawfish. The river also contains a notable introduced population of Siamese fighting fish. {{Cite web |last=Bray |first=Dianne |title=Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens |url=http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4919#summary |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044526/http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4919#summary |archive-date=12 October 2017 |access-date=29 September 2014 |website=Fishes of Australia}}
History
Indigenous Australians including the Warray and Kungarakan owned the lands among the river for millennia.
Lieutenant Fitzmaurice, under the command of John Lort Stokes, sighted the river on a boating expedition. The expedition was part of the Admiralty surveying ship HMS Beagle's voyage in 1839, and the river was named in honour of Queen Adelaide.{{cite web|url=http://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/placenames/view.jsp?id=10152|title=Place Names Register Extract - Adelaide River|access-date=27 April 2015|work=NT Place Names Register|publisher=Northern Territory Government}}
Gallery
File:Springende Krokodile im Adelaide River Mike Krüger 070509 1.JPG|Jumping crocodile at Adelaide River
File:A140, Adelaide River, Northern Territory, Australia, saltwater crocodile misses bait, 2007.jpg|Croc whips tail to leap high but misses bait
File:Adelaide_River_NT_Australia.ogv|A video taken on Adelaide River
See also
{{Portal|Water|Environment}}
References
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Rivers of the Northern Territory |state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Rivers of the Northern Territory
Category:Articles containing video clips
{{NorthernTerritory-river-stub}}