Sandover River
Encyclopedia
The Sandover River is a river in northeast Central Australia
. It is the only major tributary of the Georgina River
that does not rise in western Queensland. Instead it flows from the eastern Macdonnell Ranges
in the Northern Territory
northward to enter the Georgina near Urandangi
. The highest point in the catchment is Bald Hill at 996 metres (3,268 feet), but it enters the Georgina at altitudes below 200 metres (656 feet).
The Sandover is an ephemeral river, so it is usually dry except when the northern monsoon moves unusually far south into the continent. The average annual rainfall in the basin is typically around 275 mm (11 inches) but varies greatly: in dry years like 1928 the total may be as low as 50 mm (2 inches), but in very wet years like 1974, 2000 , 2001 and 2010 , it can be as high as 760 mm (30 inches). Most of this rain falls in the summer: between December and March monthly totals have on several occasions exceeded the mean annual rainfall. Flows in the Sandover often fail to reach the Georgina, instead drying out in waterholes well west of Urandangie. In very wet periods, such as 1920-1921, 1973-1977 and 1999-2001, however, water from the Sandover may not only reach the Georgina, but actually flow (via a circuitous route) into Lake Eyre
in South Australia
.
Central Australia
Central Australia/Alice Springs Region is one of the five regions in the Northern Territory. The term Central Australia is used to describe an area centred on Alice Springs in Australia. It is sometimes referred to as Centralia; likewise the people of the area are sometimes called Centralians...
. It is the only major tributary of the Georgina River
Georgina River
The Georgina River is the north-westernmost of the three major rivers of the Channel Country in western Queensland that flow in extremely wet years into Lake Eyre.-Geography:...
that does not rise in western Queensland. Instead it flows from the eastern Macdonnell Ranges
MacDonnell Ranges
The MacDonnell Ranges of the Northern Territory, are a long series of mountain ranges located in the centre of Australia , and consist of parallel ridges running to the east and west of Alice Springs...
in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
northward to enter the Georgina near Urandangi
Urandangi
Urandangi is a town in north-western Queensland, Australia. The town is located on the banks of the Georgina River and in the Shire of Boulia local government area, north west of the state capital, Brisbane and south west of the regional centre of Mount Isa....
. The highest point in the catchment is Bald Hill at 996 metres (3,268 feet), but it enters the Georgina at altitudes below 200 metres (656 feet).
The Sandover is an ephemeral river, so it is usually dry except when the northern monsoon moves unusually far south into the continent. The average annual rainfall in the basin is typically around 275 mm (11 inches) but varies greatly: in dry years like 1928 the total may be as low as 50 mm (2 inches), but in very wet years like 1974, 2000 , 2001 and 2010 , it can be as high as 760 mm (30 inches). Most of this rain falls in the summer: between December and March monthly totals have on several occasions exceeded the mean annual rainfall. Flows in the Sandover often fail to reach the Georgina, instead drying out in waterholes well west of Urandangie. In very wet periods, such as 1920-1921, 1973-1977 and 1999-2001, however, water from the Sandover may not only reach the Georgina, but actually flow (via a circuitous route) into Lake Eyre
Lake Eyre
Lake Eyre is the lowest point in Australia, at approximately below sea level, and, on the rare occasions that it fills, it is the largest lake in Australia and 18th largest in the world...
in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.