Daly River (Northern Territory)

Daly River
Daly River (Northern Territory) is located in Northern Territory
Daly River (Northern Territory)
EtymologyDominick Daly
Location
CountryAustralia
TerritoryNorthern Territory
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationConfluence of Flora and Katherine river
 • coordinates14°39′22.9536″S 131°42′18.0864″E / 14.656376000°S 131.705024000°E / -14.656376000; 131.705024000
 • elevation64 m (210 ft)
2nd sourceKatherine River
 • locationArnhem Land
 • coordinates13°16′2.9784″S 133°4′27.7608″E / 13.267494000°S 133.074378000°E / -13.267494000; 133.074378000
 • elevation453 m (1,486 ft)
3rd sourceFlora River
 • locationFlora River Nature Park
 • coordinates14°54′37.6884″S 131°10′35.0328″E / 14.910469000°S 131.176398000°E / -14.910469000; 131.176398000
 • elevation268 m (879 ft)
MouthTimor Sea
 • coordinates
13°20′S 130°19′E / 13.333°S 130.317°E / -13.333; 130.317
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length354 km (220 mi)[1]
Basin size53,708 km2 (20,737 sq mi)[1]
Discharge 
 • locationTimor Sea (near mouth)
 • average369.7 m3/s (11,670 GL/a)[2]
Discharge 
 • locationWooliana (92 rkm, 13°40′43.428″S 130°38′36.6648″E / 13.67873000°S 130.643518000°E / -13.67873000; 130.643518000; Basin size: 49,898.4 km2 (19,265.9 sq mi)
 • average317.8 m3/s (10,030 GL/a)[2]
Discharge 
 • locationMount Nancar (113 rkm, 13°47′58.8624″S 130°43′30.2448″E / 13.799684000°S 130.725068000°E / -13.799684000; 130.725068000; Basin size: 47,652 km2 (18,399 sq mi)
 • average(Period: 2000–2022)315.3 m3/s (9,950 GL/a)[3]
 • minimum11 m3/s (350 GL/a) (1970)[3]
 • maximum8,293 m3/s (261,700 GL/a) (1998)[3]
Discharge 
 • locationDorisvale Crossing (214 rkm, 14°21′47.8764″S 131°33′23.9004″E / 14.363299000°S 131.556639000°E / -14.363299000; 131.556639000; Basin size: 33,227 km2 (12,829 sq mi)
 • average(Period: 2000–2022)215.1 m3/s (6,790 GL/a)[4]
Basin features
River systemDaly River
Tributaries 
 • leftFlora, Bradshaw Creek, Jinduckin Creek, Cattle Creek, Bamboo Creek, Fish, Chilling Creek, Hermit Creek
 • rightKatherine, Fergusson, Stray Creek, Douglas, Green Ant Creek, Hayward Creek, Kilfoyle Creek, Elliot Creek

The Daly River is a river in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is part of the Daly Catchment.

The Daly River flows 354 kilometres (220 mi) from the confluence of the Flora River and Katherine River to its mouth on the Timor Sea.[5] It is one the few major rivers in the Northern Territory that flows all year round. Sustained by groundwater, its dry-season flows are five time larger than any other river in the territory.[6]

It is home to more than 90 species of fish. It is best known for its large barramundi making it a popular waterway for recreational fishing. The floodwater carries baitfish which attracts predatory barramundi. The river is also home to the critically endangered largetooth sawfish. It also has eight different turtle species, includes the endangered pig-nosed turtle, more than any other Australian river.[7]

  1. ^ a b "Daly: Geographic information".
  2. ^ a b "Darwin-Arnhem".
  3. ^ a b c "Hydrologic Reference Stations-Mount Nancar".
  4. ^ "Hydrologic Reference Stations-Dorisvale Crossing".
  5. ^ McLennan, Chris (19 September 2018). "Katherine's poison plume". Katherine Times. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  6. ^ Booth, Carol; Turner, Joel (February 2024). "Free-flowing Rivers of Australia's North". Territory Rivers: Keep ‘em Flowing. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  7. ^ Warren Snowdon (6 October 2011). "Fish River - Conservation helps close the gap". Media Release. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 3 November 2011.