Eisspeedway

Strickland River

Strickland
Location of the Strickland
Location
CountryPapua New Guinea
RegionWestern Province
Physical characteristics
SourceCentral Range
 • locationConfluence of Lagaip and Ok Om (Papua New Guinea)
 • coordinates5°8′49.9632″S 142°18′9.1404″E / 5.147212000°S 142.302539000°E / -5.147212000; 142.302539000
 • elevation468 m (1,535 ft)
2nd sourceLagaip River
 • locationCentral Range
 • coordinates5°38′52.692″S 143°36′48.7404″E / 5.64797000°S 143.613539000°E / -5.64797000; 143.613539000
 • elevation2,710 m (8,890 ft)
3rd sourceOk Om River
 • locationCentral Range
 • coordinates4°58′30.612″S 141°51′9.2592″E / 4.97517000°S 141.852572000°E / -4.97517000; 141.852572000
 • elevation1,955 m (6,414 ft)
MouthFly River
 • location
Obo
 • coordinates
7°35′S 141°23′E / 7.583°S 141.383°E / -7.583; 141.383
 • elevation
6 m (20 ft)
Length824 km (512 mi)
Basin size37,000 km2 (14,000 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • locationConfluence of Fly River, Western Province (Papua New Guinea)
 • average4,000 m3/s (140,000 cu ft/s)[1] 3,600 m3/s (130,000 cu ft/s)
 • maximum21,000 m3/s (740,000 cu ft/s)
Discharge 
 • locationHerbert, Western Province (Papua New Guinea)
 • average3,500 m3/s (120,000 cu ft/s)[1]
 • minimum1,200 m3/s (42,000 cu ft/s)[1]
 • maximum4,500 m3/s (160,000 cu ft/s)[1]
Basin features
River systemFly River
Tributaries 
 • leftLagaip, Liddle, Carrington, Aiema
 • rightOk Om, Murray, Herbert

The Strickland River is a major river in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. It is the longest and largest tributary of the Fly River with a total length of 824 km (512 mi) including the Lagaip River the farthest distance river source of the Strickland River. It was named after Edward Strickland, vice-president of the Geographical Society of Australasia[2] by the New Guinea Exploration Expedition of 1885.

Tributary

Strickland River List of tributaries by length.

Environmental concerns

The Porgera Gold Mine, run by Barrick Gold, is a mine near Strickland, which is the source of environmental concerns in the area. Since 1992, Barrick Gold has dumped mine waste, particularly metal particulates or tailings, directly into the river. This process of riverine disposal by the mine has led to much controversy, with numerous deaths and environmental problems being blamed on the metal particulates.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d David, Lawrence; Tim, Cansfield-Smith (1990). "Sustainable Development for Traditional Inhabitants of the Torres Strait Region".
  2. ^ Walsh, G. P. "Strickland, Sir Edward (1821–1889)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 22 September 2013.

Further reading