Diamantina River
Encyclopedia
The Diamantina River is a river
in south west Queensland
and the far north of South Australia
. Rising north-west of Longreach in the Swords Range, it flows in a south-westerly direction through central Queensland and the Channel Country
to form the Warburton River
at its confluence with the Georgina River
. In extremely wet years, the Warburton River flows as far as Lake Eyre
. The length of the Diamantina River is approximately 900 km (559.2 mi), and the basin is approximately 157,000 km², of which most (140,000 km²) is used for agriculture.
The river was named by William Landsborough in 1866 for Lady Diamantina Bowen
(née Roma), wife of Sir George Ferguson Bowen
, the first Governor of Queensland. It has three major tributaries the Western River, Mayne River and Farrars Creek.
Most of the basin of the Diamantina is very flat—even the highest points in the northeast do not reach 500 m (1,640.4 ft) above sea level and Lake Eyre itself is 16 m (52.5 ft) below sea level. Apart from a few streams near Winton
(the largest town in the basin) almost all rivers in the basin flow southwestwards towards Birdsville
. The Diamantina River has no main channel, rather it is a series of wide relatively shallow channels. The major feature of the river's sluggish course is Diamantina National Park
about halfway between Winton and Birdsville. Apart from the national park, almost all land in the basin is used for grazing cattle
and sheep, though numbers fluctuate greatly and considerable skill is required on the part of graziers.
. In January, temperatures throughout the basin average around 37°C (98°F) during the day and decline only to about 24°C (75°F) at night. In winter, they typically range from 25°C (77°F) during the day to 11°C (52°F) at night. On occasions, however, frost
has been reported in all areas of the basin: Winton has recorded minima as low as -1.8°C (29°F).
to around 90 mm (3.5 in) at Birdsville. In the rest of the year rainfall is very scanty and only on the rarest occasions are significant falls reported: throughout most of the basin the average rainfall between May and September totals around 40 mm (1.6 in). However, the rainfall of the basin, as with all of the Lake Eyre Basin
, is exceedingly erratic and catastrophic drought
s and flood
s tend to be the normal state of affairs throughout this region. In the northern part of the basin, annual rainfalls as high as 1100 mm (43.3 in) were reported in 1894, 1950, 1974 and 2000, whilst even in Birdsville annual totals as high as 550 mm (21.7 in) have been reported. During floods the river can be as wide as 30 km (18.6 mi) across.
In dry years such as 1902, 1905, 1928, 1961, 1965 and 2002, almost the whole basin reported totals 100 mm (3.9 in). There can also be significant variation from station to station over small areas: although the annual averages and variability at Winton and Kynuna are almost alike, the actual totals at the two stations can differ by as much as 200 mm (7.9 in) in some years due to isolated very heavy rainfalls.
s, with some fluvents in the drier areas. Although they do not have high phosphate
contents, they have adequate levels of most other nutrients: consequently when rainfall is abundant the grasses within the basin are extremely nutritious, especially in the lower reaches of the river around Birdsville, which is a primary region for cattle fattening in years when rainfall further north is adequate to flood the region.
of the lower reaches of the Diamantina has been identified as an Important Bird Area
by BirdLife International
because it has been estimated to support at least 450,000 waterbirds when in flood, as well as globally significant numbers of the Nankeen Night-Heron, Royal Spoonbill
, Little Curlew
, Australian Bustard
, Grey Grasswren
, Inland Dotterel
, Cinnamon Quail-thrush
and Pied Honeyeater
.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in south west Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and the far north of 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...
. Rising north-west of Longreach in the Swords Range, it flows in a south-westerly direction through central Queensland and the Channel Country
Channel Country
The Channel Country is region of outback Australia located mostly in the state of Queensland but also in portions of South Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales. The name comes from the numerous intertwined rivulets that cross the region, which cover 150,000 km²...
to form the Warburton River
Warburton River
Warburton River is a freshwater stream in the far north of South Australia that flows in a south westerly direction and discharges into the eastern side of Lake Eyre. It is one of the state's largest rivers, and is part of the Diamantina catchment...
at its confluence with 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:...
. In extremely wet years, the Warburton River flows as far as 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...
. The length of the Diamantina River is approximately 900 km (559.2 mi), and the basin is approximately 157,000 km², of which most (140,000 km²) is used for agriculture.
The river was named by William Landsborough in 1866 for Lady Diamantina Bowen
Diamantina Bowen
Lady Diamantina Bowen was a Greek noble who became the wife of Sir George Ferguson Bowen, the first governor of Queensland.-Personal life:...
(née Roma), wife of Sir George Ferguson Bowen
George Ferguson Bowen
Sir George Ferguson Bowen GCMG was a British colonial administrator whose appointments included postings to the Ionian Islands, Queensland , New Zealand, Victoria , Mauritius and Hong Kong....
, the first Governor of Queensland. It has three major tributaries the Western River, Mayne River and Farrars Creek.
Most of the basin of the Diamantina is very flat—even the highest points in the northeast do not reach 500 m (1,640.4 ft) above sea level and Lake Eyre itself is 16 m (52.5 ft) below sea level. Apart from a few streams near Winton
Winton, Queensland
-Qantas:Winton was one of the founding towns of the Australian airline Qantas. The first board meeting was held at the Winton Club on 10 February 1921.-Waltzing Matilda:...
(the largest town in the basin) almost all rivers in the basin flow southwestwards towards Birdsville
Birdsville, Queensland
-External links:*...
. The Diamantina River has no main channel, rather it is a series of wide relatively shallow channels. The major feature of the river's sluggish course is Diamantina National Park
Diamantina National Park
Diamantina National Park is a national park in the Channel Country of south west Queensland, Australia, 1278 km west of Brisbane. Like the Diamantina River that flows through it, it is named for Lady Diamantina Bowen, wife of Sir George Ferguson Bowen, the first Governor of Queensland.Established...
about halfway between Winton and Birdsville. Apart from the national park, almost all land in the basin is used for grazing cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
and sheep, though numbers fluctuate greatly and considerable skill is required on the part of graziers.
Climate
The climate of the basin is hot and aridArid
A region is said to be arid when it is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or even preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life...
. In January, temperatures throughout the basin average around 37°C (98°F) during the day and decline only to about 24°C (75°F) at night. In winter, they typically range from 25°C (77°F) during the day to 11°C (52°F) at night. On occasions, however, frost
Frost
Frost is the solid deposition of water vapor from saturated air. It is formed when solid surfaces are cooled to below the dew point of the adjacent air as well as below the freezing point of water. Frost crystals' size differ depending on time and water vapour available. Frost is also usually...
has been reported in all areas of the basin: Winton has recorded minima as low as -1.8°C (29°F).
Precipitation
Rainfall is heavily concentrated between December and March: averages for these four months range from 310 mm (12.2 in) at Winton and KynunaKynuna
Kynuna is a town in north west Queensland, Australia, on the banks of the Diamantina River. The town is located on the Landsborough Highway, in the Shire of McKinlay local government area, north west of the state capital, Brisbane and south east of the regional centre of Mount Isa...
to around 90 mm (3.5 in) at Birdsville. In the rest of the year rainfall is very scanty and only on the rarest occasions are significant falls reported: throughout most of the basin the average rainfall between May and September totals around 40 mm (1.6 in). However, the rainfall of the basin, as with all of the Lake Eyre Basin
Lake Eyre Basin
The Lake Eyre basin is a drainage basin that covers just under one-sixth of all Australia. The Lake Eyre Basin is the largest endorheic basin in Australia and amongst the largest in the world, covering about 1,200,000 square kilometres, including much of inland Queensland, large portions of South...
, is exceedingly erratic and catastrophic drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
s and flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
s tend to be the normal state of affairs throughout this region. In the northern part of the basin, annual rainfalls as high as 1100 mm (43.3 in) were reported in 1894, 1950, 1974 and 2000, whilst even in Birdsville annual totals as high as 550 mm (21.7 in) have been reported. During floods the river can be as wide as 30 km (18.6 mi) across.
In dry years such as 1902, 1905, 1928, 1961, 1965 and 2002, almost the whole basin reported totals 100 mm (3.9 in). There can also be significant variation from station to station over small areas: although the annual averages and variability at Winton and Kynuna are almost alike, the actual totals at the two stations can differ by as much as 200 mm (7.9 in) in some years due to isolated very heavy rainfalls.
Soils
The soils in the region are mainly grey and brown vertisolVertisol
In both the FAO and USA soil taxonomy, a vertisol is a soil in which there is a high content of expansive clay known as montmorillonite that forms deep cracks in drier seasons or years. Alternate shrinking and swelling causes self-mulching, where the soil material consistently mixes itself, causing...
s, with some fluvents in the drier areas. Although they do not have high phosphate
Phosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
contents, they have adequate levels of most other nutrients: consequently when rainfall is abundant the grasses within the basin are extremely nutritious, especially in the lower reaches of the river around Birdsville, which is a primary region for cattle fattening in years when rainfall further north is adequate to flood the region.
Wildlife
The 3,400 km2 floodplainFloodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
of the lower reaches of the Diamantina has been identified as an Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
because it has been estimated to support at least 450,000 waterbirds when in flood, as well as globally significant numbers of the Nankeen Night-Heron, Royal Spoonbill
Royal Spoonbill
The Royal Spoonbill, Platalea regia, also known as the Black-billed Spoonbill, occurs in intertidal flats and shallows of fresh and saltwater wetlands in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. It has also been recorded as a vagrant in New Caledonia...
, Little Curlew
Little Curlew
The Little Curlew, Numenius minutus, is a wader in the large bird family Scolopacidae. It is a very small curlew, which breeds in the far north of Siberia. It is closely related to the North American Eskimo Curlew....
, Australian Bustard
Australian Bustard
The Australian Bustard, Ardeotis australis, is a large ground bird of grassland, woodland and open agricultural country across northern Australia and southern New Guinea. It is also commonly referred to in Central Australia as the Bush Turkey, particularly by Aboriginal people.The male is up to ...
, Grey Grasswren
Grey Grasswren
The Grey Grasswren is a species of bird in the Maluridae family.It is endemic to Australia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 25 July 2007....
, Inland Dotterel
Inland Dotterel
The Inland Dotterel also known as the Australian Dotterel and sometimes placed in the monotypic genus Peltohyas, is a medium-sized Charadriine plover.-Description:...
, Cinnamon Quail-thrush
Cinnamon Quail-thrush
The Cinnamon Quail-thrush is a species of bird in the Cinclosomatidae family.It is endemic to Australia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 25 July 2007....
and Pied Honeyeater
Pied Honeyeater
The Pied Honeyeater is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is endemic to Australia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 25 July 2007....
.