Staaten River
Encyclopedia
The Staaten River is a river in the Cape York Peninsula
, Australia
that rises more than 200 km to the west of Cairns and empties into the Gulf of Carpentaria
. Along the way, its waters overflow into intertwining lagoons that create an enormous wetland sanctuary for a vast array of unique wildlife and plants. When the rains of the wet season cease, the Staaten River retreats from the floodplains and wetlands and becomes little more than a thread trickling down wide sand banks and a string of important lagoon refuges.
The river was first named by Dutch sea explorer Jan Carstenz
in 1623.
There is very little development in the catchment, with grazing being the most common activitiy, and there are no major water storage facilities on the river. The river is navigable for 17 km upstream until sand and rock bars are found. Dinah Island, located about 15 km inland, is a small cattle property and at times provides short term accommodation for fishing enthusiasts.
last great wilderness areas. With little agricultural development, scant road access, and thriving forests and wildlife, it is a truly wild river system.
The river straddles both the Cape York Peninsula
and Gulf Country
regions. Characterised by the replenishing floods of the wet season and an extensive network of lagoon refuges during the dry season, the river system is known for its excellent saratoga
and barramundi
fishing and saltwater crocodiles
, one of Australia's best known animals.
The wet season is characterized by a large congregation of waterbirds from all over Australia and as far away as China
and Russia
. This birds live in the abundant waters of places like the huge Inkerman-Gilbrath Wetland, near the mouth of the catchment. The coastal margin of the Staaten River forms part of the Southeast Karumba Plan wetland aggregation, which is the best developed coastal wetland system in Queensland and provides critical habitat and breeding grounds for birds, fish, and other native wildlife. The Staaten River National Park
in this area, covering around 467,000 hectares, is one of Australia's largest and most remote National Parks.
The Staaten Wild River Area covers about 25,700 square kilometers at the western base of Cape York Peninsula. The area contains the catchments of the Staaten River, Vanrook Creek, and ten major tributaries. The purpose of the wild river declaration is to "manage future development activity in the wild river area to ensure the wild river natural values are preserved."
The Agwamin, Kutjar, Koknar, Kunjen and Kokoberrin people are the traditional owners of the Staaten River catchment area and maintain strong cultural and spiritual connections with the land and rivers. The traditional ecological knowledge and health of these communities is in turn critical to the ongoing health of this wild river system.
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
that rises more than 200 km to the west of Cairns and empties into the Gulf of Carpentaria
Gulf of Carpentaria
The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea...
. Along the way, its waters overflow into intertwining lagoons that create an enormous wetland sanctuary for a vast array of unique wildlife and plants. When the rains of the wet season cease, the Staaten River retreats from the floodplains and wetlands and becomes little more than a thread trickling down wide sand banks and a string of important lagoon refuges.
The river was first named by Dutch sea explorer Jan Carstenz
Jan Carstenszoon
Jan Carstenszoon or more commonly Jan Carstensz ) was a 17th century Dutch explorer.In 1623, Carstenszoon was commissioned by the Dutch East India Company to lead an expedition to the southern coast of New Guinea and beyond, to follow up the reports of land sighted further south in the 1606 voyages...
in 1623.
There is very little development in the catchment, with grazing being the most common activitiy, and there are no major water storage facilities on the river. The river is navigable for 17 km upstream until sand and rock bars are found. Dinah Island, located about 15 km inland, is a small cattle property and at times provides short term accommodation for fishing enthusiasts.
Conservation and cultural values
The Staaten River catchment is one of Australia'sAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
last great wilderness areas. With little agricultural development, scant road access, and thriving forests and wildlife, it is a truly wild river system.
The river straddles both the Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...
and Gulf Country
Gulf Country
The Gulf Country is the name given to the region of woodland and savanna grassland surrounding the Gulf of Carpentaria in north western Queensland and eastern Northern Territory on the north coast of Australia...
regions. Characterised by the replenishing floods of the wet season and an extensive network of lagoon refuges during the dry season, the river system is known for its excellent saratoga
Saratoga (fish)
The saratoga, Scleropages leichardti, also known as the spotted bonytongue, spotted saratoga, or southern saratoga, is a freshwater bony fish native to Australia. It belongs to the subfamily Osteoglossinae, or arowanas, a primitive group of teleosts. Like all arowanas, it is a carnivorous...
and barramundi
Barramundi
The Barramundi , also known as Asian Seabass, is a species of catadromous fish in family Latidae of order Perciformes. The native species is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific region from the Persian Gulf, through Southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia. Known in Thai...
fishing and saltwater crocodiles
Saltwater Crocodile
The saltwater crocodile, also known as estuarine or Indo-Pacific crocodile, is the largest of all living reptiles...
, one of Australia's best known animals.
The wet season is characterized by a large congregation of waterbirds from all over Australia and as far away as China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. This birds live in the abundant waters of places like the huge Inkerman-Gilbrath Wetland, near the mouth of the catchment. The coastal margin of the Staaten River forms part of the Southeast Karumba Plan wetland aggregation, which is the best developed coastal wetland system in Queensland and provides critical habitat and breeding grounds for birds, fish, and other native wildlife. The Staaten River National Park
Staaten River National Park
The Staaten River National Park is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 1640 km northwest of Brisbane. It receives its name from the Staaten River which flows through the park.-Environment:...
in this area, covering around 467,000 hectares, is one of Australia's largest and most remote National Parks.
The Staaten Wild River Area covers about 25,700 square kilometers at the western base of Cape York Peninsula. The area contains the catchments of the Staaten River, Vanrook Creek, and ten major tributaries. The purpose of the wild river declaration is to "manage future development activity in the wild river area to ensure the wild river natural values are preserved."
The Agwamin, Kutjar, Koknar, Kunjen and Kokoberrin people are the traditional owners of the Staaten River catchment area and maintain strong cultural and spiritual connections with the land and rivers. The traditional ecological knowledge and health of these communities is in turn critical to the ongoing health of this wild river system.