| Endeavour Endeavours | |
|---|---|
 Endeavour River at Marton, 2004 | |
 Satellite image of the Endeavour River course marked in dark blue | |
| Etymology | HMS Endeavour[1] |
| Native name | Wabalumbaal (Guugu Yimidhirr) |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | Far North Queensland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Endeavour River Right Branch |
| • location | northwest ofHopevale |
| • coordinates | 15°15′17″S145°03′01″E / 15.25472°S 145.05028°E /-15.25472; 145.05028 |
| • elevation | 327 m (1,073 ft) |
| 2nd source | Endeavour River North Branch |
| • location | below Honeysuckle Flat |
| • coordinates | 15°20′50″S145°06′11″E / 15.34722°S 145.10306°E /-15.34722; 145.10306 |
| • elevation | 160 m (520 ft) |
| 3rd source | Endeavour River South Branch |
| • location | near Alderbury |
| • coordinates | 15°25′25″S144°54′54″E / 15.42361°S 144.91500°E /-15.42361; 144.91500 |
| • elevation | 109 m (358 ft) |
| Source confluence | Right Branch to from the Endeavour River |
| • location | Endeavour River National Park |
| • coordinates | 15°26′34″S145°12′12″E / 15.44278°S 145.20333°E /-15.44278; 145.20333 |
| Mouth | Coral Sea |
• location | Cooktown |
• coordinates | 15°27′23″S145°14′59″E / 15.45639°S 145.24972°E /-15.45639; 145.24972 |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 140 km (87 mi) |
| Basin size | 1,315 km2 (508 sq mi) to 958.6 km2 (370.1 sq mi)[2] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Near mouth |
| • average | 24 m3/s (760 GL/a)[2] |
| Basin features | |
| National park | Endeavour River National Park |
| [3][4][5][6] | |
TheEndeavour River (Guugu Yimithirr:Wabalumbaal), inclusive of theEndeavour River Right Branch, theEndeavour River South Branch, and theEndeavour River North Branch, is ariver system located onCape York Peninsula inFar North Queensland,Australia.
The river system comprises three branches that are sourced by runoff from the Henderson and Audaer Ranges. The river flows generally east from theGreat Dividing Range to the Coral Sea. The Right Branch of the river rises northwest ofHopevale at an elevation of 335 metres (1,099 ft) and flows generally south by east for 48 kilometres (30 mi) before reaching itsconfluence to join with the Endeavour River northwest ofCooktown, and west of theriver mouth.[4] The South Branch of the river rises near Alderbury at an elevation of 109 metres (358 ft) and flows generally east for 20 kilometres (12 mi) before forming confluence with the North Branch to form the Endeavour River.[5] The North Branch of the river rises below Honeysuckle Flat at an elevation of 160 metres (520 ft) and flows generally west and then south for 20 kilometres (12 mi) before forming confluence with the South Branch to form the Endeavour River.[6] Having been formed by the South and North Branches, the Endeavour River rises below Flaggy at an elevation of 39 metres (128 ft) and flows generally east towards its mouth with theCoral Sea at Cooktown, flowing through theEndeavour River National Park for the last few kilometres of itscourse.[3] The Endeavour River has acatchment area of 1,315 square kilometres (508 sq mi).[7]
In recent years,tilapia fish, which are considered an "invasive species" in Australia, have infested the river, causing concern that the stocks of native fish will suffer.
The river basin remains largely unmodified and the water quality is rated as good.[8]
James Cook named the river in 1770 after he was forced to beach his ship,HMS Endeavour,[1] for repairs in the river mouth, after damaging it onEndeavour Reef.[9]Joseph Banks named the river theEndeavours River[10] but the form Cook used, Endeavour River, has stuck.
Cook and his crew remained for almost seven weeks and made contact with the localGuugu Yimithirr people. The naturalists Joseph Banks andDaniel Solander made extensive collections of native flora, whileSydney Parkinson illustrated much of the flora and fauna of the region. Botanical specimens were also collected byAllan Cunningham after he arrived onHMS Mermaid, captained byPhilip Parker King on 28 June 1819.
Modern Cooktown which has a population of about 2,000, is located at the mouth of the Endeavour River. It is one of the northernmost towns on theeast coast of Australia and was founded in 1873, around the site of Cook's landing, as a port to service the newly discoveredPalmer River goldfields. Some of the relatively undisturbed natural features near the mouth of the river have been reserved in the Endeavour River National Park.
Media related toEndeavour River at Wikimedia Commons
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