Purari River
Encyclopedia
The Purari is a river
in that originates in the south central highlands of Papua New Guinea
, flowing 470 kilometres (292 mi) though the Gulf Province
to the Gulf of Papua
. The Purari has a 33670 km² (13,000.1 sq mi) drainage basin
and is the third largest river in Papua New Guinea.
It is fed mainly by the Kaugel, Erave, Tua and Pio rivers, starting just south of Mount Karimui at the junction of the Tua and Pio rivers, where it flows through a quite spectacular gorge before flowing out into the lowlands and delta country closer to the coast. Along the river in various places there are small human populations, mostly subsistence villages. Dugout canoes are seen along the river from Wabo
downstream, however population is sparse until you get closer to the coast where there are a few more villages.
The general area is heavy tropical jungle with high rainfall and abundant birdlife. The Purari is a heavy muddy brown from silts washed down from the mountains, and rises and falls constantly depending on local rainfall. It is also tidal a substantial distance from the coast.
The headwaters of the river were charted in 1930 by Michael Leahy
and Michael Dwyer.
The governments of Papua New Guinea and Government of Queensland
have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with PNG Energy Developments Ltd (PNG EDL) and Origin Energy
(Origin) to support the potential development of a renewable hydro electricity project based on the Purari.
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 that originates in the south central highlands of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, flowing 470 kilometres (292 mi) though the Gulf Province
Gulf Province
Gulf Province is a province of Papua New Guinea located on the southern coast. The provincial capital is Kerema. The 34,500 km² province is dominated by mountains, lowland river deltas, and grassland flood plains, the Kikori, Turama, Purari and Vailala rivers all meet the sea known as the...
to the Gulf of Papua
Gulf of Papua
The Gulf of Papua is a 400 kilometer wide region on the south shore of New Guinea. Some of New Guinea's largest rivers, such as the Fly River, Turama River, Kikori River and Purari River, flow into the gulf, making it a large delta. While the western coast is characterized by swampy tidal...
. The Purari has a 33670 km² (13,000.1 sq mi) drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
and is the third largest river in Papua New Guinea.
It is fed mainly by the Kaugel, Erave, Tua and Pio rivers, starting just south of Mount Karimui at the junction of the Tua and Pio rivers, where it flows through a quite spectacular gorge before flowing out into the lowlands and delta country closer to the coast. Along the river in various places there are small human populations, mostly subsistence villages. Dugout canoes are seen along the river from Wabo
WABO
WABO may refer to:* WABO , a radio station licensed to Waynesboro, Mississippi, United States* WABO-FM, a radio station licensed to Waynesboro, Mississippi, United States...
downstream, however population is sparse until you get closer to the coast where there are a few more villages.
The general area is heavy tropical jungle with high rainfall and abundant birdlife. The Purari is a heavy muddy brown from silts washed down from the mountains, and rises and falls constantly depending on local rainfall. It is also tidal a substantial distance from the coast.
The headwaters of the river were charted in 1930 by Michael Leahy
Mick Leahy
Michael "Mick" James Leahy MBE was an Australian explorer and colonialist, famed for his discovery of the Highlands area of Papua New Guinea...
and Michael Dwyer.
The governments of Papua New Guinea and Government of 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...
have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with PNG Energy Developments Ltd (PNG EDL) and Origin Energy
Origin Energy
-History:Origin Energy was formed in February 2000, as a result of a demerger from the Australian conglomerate Boral Limited, in which the energy business was removed from the building and construction materials business to form the new company....
(Origin) to support the potential development of a renewable hydro electricity project based on the Purari.