Finke River Crossing
Designation:
Australia-NT_Finke_River
Location:
| Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|
-25.680383° | 134.861083° |
-25.423333° | 134.860850° |
-24.751839° | 133.186730° |
Locality and ownership:
New Crown Station. NT Pastoral Lease 01132.
Access:
From Kulgera 148 km graded dirt track to town of Finke, then 33 km ESE to New Crown Station. On down the road to Charlotte Waters to Fink river crossing.
Local contacts:
Nearest services:
Kulgera.
Risks:
There is a risk of becoming trapped by impassible roads in heavy rains. Flash flooding is possible in this area.
Terrain:
river channels
General:
Site descriptions:
- An embankment to the presrnt channel is itself a shallow channel during high flood stage. The sediment here consists of orange grey to salmon-coloured very fne quartz sand with abundant mica. There was little evidence of layering except in the top 10cm.
- In the active channel (about ~350m across) is an irregular surface consisting of mounds of sand and sand bars separated by swales. The sand consist of fine to medium moderately-sorted quartz sand. Areas of erosion have exposed orange grey silt, and mud which has cracked by drying underlaid by cross -bedded fine sand. Small pebbles are distributed across the sand.
Climate:
Variabilty in weather. The average annual rainfall is 150mm, but the rain is charcterised by very large peak falls, producing ocassional floods. Minimum monthly average temperature (July) is 6 deg and the maximum is 35 deg. The temperature can fall below freezing in winter.
Flora and fauna:
Islands of tee-tree and tamarind trees in the river bed. Eucalypts on the bank. Station horses and cattle seen nearby. Much surface vegetation.
History:
Analogue value:
Moderate analogue value as an example of a typography, a medium sized river dominated by rare high intensity and sometimes catastrophic flood events. Expanse of river channel preserving evidence of flow from when banks were being deposited on and eroded. Vegetation is the limiting factor.
References:
- van Oosterzee, P. A Field Guide to Central Australia. Marleston, SA: J.B. Books, 2000.
Map reference:
Geology
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