Leichhardt River
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Leichhardt
| name_native =
| name_native_lang =
| name_other =
| name_etymology = Ludwig Leichhardt
| image = Leichardt River - panoramio (12).jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = Leichhardt River at Stokes, 2013
| map =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Australia Queensland
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of Leichhardt River river mouth in Queensland
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = Australia
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = Queensland
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = Gulf Country
| subdivision_type4 =
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| subdivision_type5 =
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| length = {{convert|630|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min =
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| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|69|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
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| source1 = Rifle Creek
| source1_location = Selwyn Range, Australia
| source1_coordinates=
| source1_elevation = {{convert|406|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth =
| mouth_location = Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|17|34|46|S|139|47|37|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|32878|km2|abbr=on}}
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The Leichhardt River is a river in north-west Queensland, Australia.
Course
The source of the river is in the Selwyn Range under Rifle Creek Hill and fed by Rifle Creek approximately {{convert|25|km|mi|0}} south of the mining town Mount Isa. It runs in a generally northerly direction almost parallel with the Diamantina Developmental Road until it reaches Mount Isa and crosses the Barkly Highway. It continues in a north easterly direction across the Gulf Country passing through Lake Moondarra past Glenroy Station then through Lake Julius. It then bears east then north again almost parallel with the Burke Developmental Road until crossing it near Nardoo. Continuing north past Augustus Downs Station to its mouth at the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The river was named by explorer and surveyor Augustus Charles Gregory after the early explorer of Australia, Ludwig Leichhardt. Gregory chose the name because:{{cite news |date=3 February 1857 |title=PARLIAMENTARY PAPER. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article78849321 |accessdate=22 July 2024 |newspaper=The North Australian, Ipswich And General Advertiser |location=Queensland, Australia |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=II |issue=71}}
"Two days' journey S.E. brought us to a river 100 yards wide, in detached pools. (Latitude 18 degrees 12 minutes, longitude 189 degrees 65 minutes.) This river was mistaken for the Albert by Dr. Leichhardt, and I therefore named it after that enterprising explorer."
Catchment
Leichhardt River has a catchment area of {{convert|32878|km2|sqmi}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/overview/qld/basin-leichhardt-river.html |title=Water resources - Overview - Queensland: Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Leichhardt River |date=15 June 2009 |work=Australian National Resources Atlas |publisher=Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities |access-date=11 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004171436/http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/overview/qld/basin-leichhardt-river.html |archive-date=4 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }} Primary activities undertaken in the watershed include mining and grazing.
The river is ephemeral and in the dry season the upstream reaches retract to a series of waterholes. The drainage basin and river estuary are in a near pristine condition.{{cite web |url=http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/coasts/estuary/qld/basin-leichhardt-river.html |title=Estuary Assessment 2000: Basin: Leichhardt River |date=20 June 2009 |work=Australian National Resources Atlas |publisher=Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities |access-date=11 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602111929/http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/coasts/estuary/qld/basin-leichhardt-river.html |archive-date=2 June 2011 |df=dmy-all }}
The river is dammed near Mount Isa to form Lake Moondarra. Other storage facilities in the catchment include Julius Dam, East Leichhardt Dam and Rifle Creek Dam. Around {{convert|50|km|mi}} upstream from its mouth are the Leichhardt Falls. As well as Mount Isa, the small community of Kajabbi is located on the river.
The river has a mean annual discharge of {{convert|2179|GL|cuyd|sigfig=3}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.southerngulf.com.au/page/The%20Land|title=The Land - Overview|access-date=31 May 2015|publisher=Southern Gulf Catchments|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411090436/http://www.southerngulf.com.au/page/The%20Land|archive-date=11 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}
History
In 2009 Xstrata spent $3 million for remediation work involving the removal of 40,000 tonnes of material from the riverbed.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-11-10/miner-spends-3m-on-river-clean-up/1135972 |title=Miner spends $3m on river clean-up |author=Meera Nambiar |access-date=11 June 2012 |date=10 November 2009 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }}
Fossil remains have been found along the river's course. In 2011 an unidentified ancient marsupial was discovered by paleontologists.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-05/ancient-marsupial-skull-like-planet-of-the-apes-leftover/3712472?section=qld |title=Ancient marsupial skull like 'Planet of the Apes leftover' |author=David Lewis |access-date=11 June 2012 |date=6 December 2011 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }}
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Water|Environment|Queensland}}}}
- {{Section link|List of rivers of Australia|Queensland}}
References
{{Reflist}}