Staaten River

Staaten
River
Country	Australia
State	Queensland
Region	Far North Queensland
Source	Great Dividing Range
- location	west of Torwood
- elevation	220 m (722 ft)
- coordinates	17°15′32″S 143°30′44″E / 17.25889°S 143.51222°E / -17.25889; 143.51222
Mouth	Gulf of Carpentaria
- coordinates	16°23′35″S 141°17′39″E / 16.39306°S 141.29417°E / -16.39306; 141.29417Coordinates: 16°23′35″S 141°17′39″E / 16.39306°S 141.29417°E / -16.39306; 141.29417
Length	383 km (238 mi)
Basin	25,732 km2 (9,935 sq mi)
National park	Staaten River National Park
Location of the Staaten River mouth in Queensland

The Staaten River is a river located in Far North Queensland, Australia.

The river rises of the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) west of Cairns. The river flows generally northwest to the Staaten River National Park and then west, joined by eleven minor tributaries before reaching its mouth and emptying into the Gulf of Carpentaria. From source to mouth the river's waters overflow into intertwining lagoons that create an enormous wetland sanctuary for a vast array of unique wildlife and plants. When the rains of the wet season cease, the Staaten River retreats from the floodplains and wetlands and becomes little more than a thread trickling down wide sand banks and a string of important lagoon refuges. The river descends 220 metres (720 ft) over its 383-kilometre (238 mi) course.

There is very little development in the catchment, with grazing being the most common activity, and there are no major water storage facilities on the river. The river is navigable for 17 kilometres (11 mi) upstream until sand and rock bars are found.Dinah Island, located about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) inland, is a small cattle property and at times provides short term accommodation for fishing enthusiasts.

The Staaten River catchment is one of Australia's last great wilderness areas. With little agricultural development, scant road access, and thriving forests and wildlife, it is a truly wild river system. The river straddles both the Cape York Peninsula and Gulf Country regions. Characterised by the replenishing floods of the wet season and an extensive network of lagoon refuges during the dry season, the river system is known for its excellent saratoga and barramundi fishing and saltwater crocodiles, one of Australia's best known animals.