The Alligator Rivers is the name of a region in Arnhem Land containing three rivers the East, West and South Alligator River. It is regarded as one of the richest biological regions in Australia with part of the region in the Kakadu National Park. It also contains mineral deposits especially uranium with the Ranger Uranium Mine located there. The area is also rich in Australian Aboriginal art with 1500 sites. The Kakadu National Park is one of the few World Heritage sites on the list because of both its natural and human heritage values. They were explored by Lieutenant Phillip Parker King in 1820 who named them in the mistaken belief that the crocodiles in the estuaries were alligators. Arnhem Land is an area of 97,000 km² in the north-eastern corner of the Northern Territory, Australia. ... Kakadu National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 171 km east of Darwin. ... Ranger mine buildings The Ranger uranium mine is located in Kakadu National Park, in the Northern Territory of Australia. ... Aboriginal hollow log tomb Australian Aboriginal art is art done by Australian Aborigines, covering art that pre-dates European colonisation as well as contemporary art by Aborigines based on traditional culture. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Admiral Philip Parker King, F.R.S. (13 December 1793-1856) was an early explorer of the Australian coast. ... Genera Mecistops Crocodylus Osteolaemus See full taxonomy. ... Species Alligator mississippiensis Alligator sinensis An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. ...

Rivers

The East Alligator River is approximately 160 kilometres long. After rising in the northern part of the Arnhem Land Plateau, it flows with tributary streams towards the northwest through magnificent canyons towards the Van Diemen Gulf which it meets at Point Farewell. Arnhem Land is an area of 97,000 km² in the north-eastern corner of the Northern Territory, Australia. ... Van Diemen Gulf is a gulf between Arnhem Land and Melville Island in northern Australia. ...

The South Alligator River is also about 160 kilometres long. It rises north of Mount Stow also on the Arnhem Land plateau. It flows northwesterly in a valley containing a number of disused uranium mines developed between 1955 and 1965. It also finishes in the Van Diemen Gulf of the Timor Sea. The Timor Sea (Indonesian: Laut Timor; Portugeuse: Mar Timor) is an arm of the Indian Ocean situated between the island of Timor, now split between the states of Indonesia and East Timor, and the Northern Territory of Australia. ...

The West Alligator River rises in the lowlands and is 80 kilometres long. The Wildman River also flows in the region. The river system has a number of spectacular waterfalls including the Jim Jim Falls on Jim Jim Creek and the Twin Falls on Twin Falls Creek. Twin Falls (or Gungkurdul) is located in the Kakadu National Park, in the Northern Territory, Australia near the eastern boundary of the park and 80km south of Jabiru. ...

The rivers have created the alluvial plains including the mangrove swamp in the past 20,000 years. Above and below water view at the edge of the mangal. ...

Climate

Like much of northern Australia, the Alligator Rivers region has a monsoon climate. The dry season lasts between May and September while the wet season lasts between November and March. April and October are transitional periods between the two months. Annual rainfall at Jabiru is approximately 1540 mm with almost all of it falling during the wet season. During the wet season, the prevailing winds are westerly to north-westerly while they are easterly to south-easterly during the dry season. Monsoon in the Vindhya mountain range, central India A monsoon is a wind pattern that changes direction depending on the season. ... The dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. ... A wet season or rainy season is a season in which the average rainfall in a region is significantly increased. ... Location of Jabiru in Northern Territory (red) Jabiru is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia. ...

The three Alligator Rivers are perennial rivers flowing even during the dry season as is the Wildman River. All of the tributaries dry up in places during that period. The land dries out, and the wildlife concentrates around the permanent water sources such as the rivers, springs, waterholes and billabongs. The duration of the dry period depends on the rainfall during the wet season. In a normal year, the tributaries will start flowing around the middle of December and finish at the end of June, but the flow will start in November and finish in August if the rainfall has been particularly heavy. Yellow Water Billabong, Kakadu National Park For other meanings, see Billabong (disambiguation) Billabong is an Australian English word used to refer to an oxbow lake, a still pool of water cut off from a waterway. ...

During the wet season, the savanna turns green, the wildlife spreads out, the bird life returns and the streams flood into adjacent lands turning them into swamps. The flood plains leave behind silt when they gradually dry up during the wet season. Savanna at Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania. ...

During the wet season, the water has a higher temperature and is relatively low in turbidity. In the dry season, there is an increase in turbidity especially in the shallower water sources.

The Alligator Rivers Region is also subject to cyclones between October and May like other parts of the Australian Indian Southeast region. Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004 Hurricane and Typhoon redirect here. ...

Wildlife

The region takes its name from the crocodiles in the lower reaches of the rivers. However, the region features a wide diversity of plant and animal habitats. More than 1500 species of plants have been recorded in a range of tropical habitats including mangrove, monsoon forest, tropical grassland and woodland. There are 46 species of fish in the river system representing approximately a quarter of all known species existing in Australia.

The region also features a wide variety of birdlife with over one in three species of Australia's species having been sighted in the region. In particular, the Alligator Rivers area is known for its rich collection of waterfowl such as magpie geese, herons, ibises and spoonbills. Binomial name Anseranas semipalmata (Latham, 1798) The Magpie Goose, Anseranas semipalmata, is an unusual member of the bird order Anseriformes, which contains about 150 species in three families. ... Genera See text. ... Genera Threskiornis Pseudibis Thaumatibis Geronticus Nipponia Bostrychia Theristicus Cercibis Mesembrinibis Phimosus Eudocimus Plegadis Lophotibis Ibises are a group of long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae. ... Genera and Species See text Spoonbills are a group of large, long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae, which also includes the Ibises. ...

The region also features high populations of the dusky rat and its predator the water python. New vertebrate species are still being discovered in the region notably the Kakadu dunnart and the Kakadu pebble-mound mouse. The potential for discovery of invertebrate species such as ants is even greater. Dunnarts are furry narrow-footed marsupials the size of a mouse. ...

There is some threat to the ecosystems from introduced flora and fauna. Introduced speeies of plant such as the giant sensitive plant and Mission grass are threatening habitats. Pest species such as feral water buffalo and Cane Toads are also causing problems. It has been suggested that Ayurveda medicinal plant lajjalu be merged into this article or section. ... For the controversy at the University of Pennsylvania, see Water buffalo incident. ... Binomial name Bufo marinus Linnaeus, 1758 Distribution of the Cane Toad. ...

Aboriginal Heritage

Aboriginal people have lived continuously in the Alligator Rivers Region for 50,000 years. The region accordingly has a rich heritage with cave paintings and rock carvings common with over 1500 sites. Many aboriginal artefacts have been found in old camping grounds in the region. Aboriginal Flag Australian Aborigines is a name used to collectively describe most of the indigenous peoples of the Australian continent and its nearby islands. ...

The southern part of Kakadu contain a number of sites relating to Bula a god associated with creation and these sites are considered to be both sacred and dangerous to the aboriginal people because of this association. There is also art relating to contact with Makassan traders and Europeans. Makassar, (Macassar, Mangkasar) is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. ...

At Obiri Rock near Cahill's Crossing on the East Alligator River, there are paintings dating from 20,000 years ago with figures throwing spears and wearing headdresses to first contact with European settlement.

The Gagudju people live in the area between the East and South Alligator Rivers. They share responsibility for Kakadu National Park which lies within their country. Gunbalunya (formerly Oenpelli), a settlement in the area, is run by an Aboriginal council and is an important centre for arts and crafts. The Gagudju language is no longer widely spoken but was common up until the early twentieth century. Gaagudju (also spelt Gagadu and Kakadu) is an extinct Australian Aboriginal language formerly spoken in Arnhem Land, northern Australia, in the environs of Kakadu National Park. ... Oenpelli (now often referred to by the inhabitants as Kunbarllanjnja or Gunbalanya) is an Aboriginal community town in west Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. ...

The Jawoyn people live in the South Alligator and South Mary regions as well as around Katherine. The Jawoyn negotiated an agreement in 1993 for the Coronation Hill uranium mine where they would allow further exploration of the area in return for employment and training for the Jawoyn and a partnership arrangement. The Jawoyn people are a group of indigenous Australians living in the Northern Territory of Australia. ... Location of Katherine in Northern Territory (red) Katherine () is a town with a population of around 10,000 situated 320 km southeast of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. ...

The Gunwinggu people live between the Liverpool River and the East Alligator River. Traditional beliefs remain important to the Gunwinggu with Ngalyod, the Rainbow Serpent playing an important part in their art and traditions. The Gunwinggu have received royalties from the Nabarlek uranium mine in recent years. The Gunwinggu live in Gunbalunya and Maningrida. The Gunwinggu are an Australian aborigine tribe of Northern Australia. ... Maningrida is a self-governing indigenous community in the heart of the Arnhem Land region of Australias Northern Territory. ...

European History

Exploration

The explorer Phillip Parker King was the first English navigator to enter the Gulf of Carpentaria. He made a number of explorations in the area between 1818 and 1822 and named the rivers after the crocodiles which he mistook for alligators as his journals note. "On our course up and down the river, we encountered several very large alligators and some were noticed sleeping on the mud. This was the first time we had seen these animals, excepting that at Goulburn Island, and, as they appeared to be very numerous and large, it was not thought safe to stop all night up the River."^[1] Admiral Philip Parker King, F.R.S. (13 December 1793-1856) was an early explorer of the Australian coast. ... The Gulf of Carpentaria viewed from orbit. ...

Ludwig Leichhardt was the first European explorer to visit the area in 1845 on route to Port Essington. Leichhardt followed a creek down from the Arnhem Land escarpment before crossing the South and East Alligator Rivers. John McDouall Stuart also visited the area in 1862. Portrait of Ludwig Leichhardt Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt (October 23, 1813 - 1848?) was a Prussian explorer and naturalist. ... Port Essington is an inlet and historic site located on the Cobourg Peninsula in the Gurig National Park in Australias Northern Territory. ... Arnhem Land is an area of 97,000 km² in the north-eastern corner of the Northern Territory, Australia. ... John McDouall Stuart (7 September 1815 – 5 June 1866) was the most accomplished and most famous of all Australias inland explorers and led the first expedition to traverse the continent from south to north successfully. ...

Settlement

The settlement of the area by Europeans was slow and sporadic as it was very remote and illnesses were also a problem. The commercial harvesting of water buffalo hides and horns had begun by the 1880s. Paddy Cahill, who came to the area to set up a cattle station was the first buffalo hunter to operate in the region. The buffalo industry lasted for approximately 70 years until the late 1950s until the development of synthetic substitutes. Crocodile hunting was also operating in the area until the hunting of freshwater crocodile was made illegal in 1964 and estuarine crocodiles in 1971. For the controversy at the University of Pennsylvania, see Water buffalo incident. ...

Paddy Cahill had established his cattle station at Oenpelli by 1906 and by 1913 it had become successful. Indeed, Cahill's success at Oenpelli was often cited as an example for others to follow. Other stations were set up but did not always enjoy the same success. Goodparla operated as a cattle and buffalo station and operated with mixed success until the Federal Government acquired the land as part of Kakadu National Park.

Missionaries provided much of the schooling for the aboriginal people for much of the twentieth century. The Kapalga Native Industrial Mission was established in 1899 near the South Alligator River but only lasted four years. The Church of England Missionary Society established a mission station in 1925 at Oenpelli which lasted for 45 years. In 1975, an aboriginal town council took over responsibility for running the township of Oenpelli. A missionary is traditionally defined as a propagator of religion who works to convert those outside that community; someone who proselytizes. ...

Small scale gold mining started in the region in the 1920s at Imarlkba near Barramundi Creek and at Moline in the 1930s. However, it was the discovery of uranium at the headlands of the South Alligator River in 1953 that started the mining industries. By 1957, there were 13 uranium mines operating employing 150 people including at Coronation Hill. The discovery of large uranium mines at Jabiluka, Ranger and Koongarra. The Federal Government established the Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry otherwise known as the Fox Inquiry which recommended the development of the Ranger site, consideration of the other two sites and establishment of Jabiru as a support centre. Royalties are paid to the traditional owners in compensation for the loss of their country. Jabiluka is a proposed uranium mine in Australia that was to have been built on land belonging to the Mirrar Aboriginal people which was surrounded by the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park. ... Ranger mine buildings The Ranger uranium mine is located in Kakadu National Park, in the Northern Territory of Australia. ... Location of Jabiru in Northern Territory (red) Jabiru is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia. ...

References

• Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage Introduction to the Alligator Rivers Region
• Kakadu National Park East Alligator River page
• Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage page on the South Alligator River
• Northern Territory Visitors Bureau page on Kakadu and Alligator Rivers tours
• CSIRO publication on Alligator Rivers birdlife
• World Wildlife profile of Arnhem Land tropical savanna
• Australian Government culture and recreation site about Kakadu
• Department of the Environment and Heritage article on Kakadu
• Alex Barlow and Marji Hill editors Encyclopedia of Australia's Aboriginal People Macmillan Education Australia 2000 accessed through MacquarieNet Online

Footnotes

1. ^ Lieutenant Phillip Parker King, Narrative of a Survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia 1826 entry for 6 May 1818 cited in Webster World 23 October 2005