The Laura River is a
river
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...
located in the
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large peninsula located in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is the largest unspoiled wilderness in northern Australia.Mittermeier, R.E. et al. (2002). Wilderness: Earth’s last wild places. Mexico City: Agrupació ...
region of
Far North Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
, Australia.
Course and features
The Laura River rises on the eastern slopes of the
Great Dividing Range below Mount Murray. The river flows generally northwest, shadowed by the Peninsular Development Road from nearby and then flows north through the town of and then the river forms the western border of the
Rinyirru National Park, while the Peninsular Development Road continues north-west through to reach the top of the peninsula at . The river is joined by sixteen
tributaries
A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainag ...
including the Deighton, Little Laura and Mosman rivers. The river reaches its
confluence
In geography, a confluence (also: ''conflux'') occurs where two or more flowing bodies of water join to form a single channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main stem); o ...
and empties into the
Normanby River
The Normanby River, comprising the East Normanby River, the West Normanby River, the East Normanby River North Branch, the East Normanby River South Branch and the Granite Normanby River, is a river system located in Far North Queensland, Aust ...
south of . The river descends over its
course.
[
The river is crossed by the ]Mulligan Highway
The Mulligan Highway is a state highway in Queensland, Australia. It runs for approximately 266 km between Mareeba and Cooktown, on the east coast of Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large peninsula located in Far North Q ...
near Mount Gibson.
A railway bridge was built over this river, but because of a change in finances and plans it was never used, except for a test train.
Etymology
The river was named as the Hearn River by William Hann
William Hann (26 February 1837 – 5 April 1889) was a pastoralist and explorer in northern Queensland, Australia. His expedition in 1872 found the first indications of the Palmer River goldfield.
Early life
He was born in Wiltshire, England, ...
on 19 October 1872, after his wife's family name. The name Laura was given by Archibald Macmillan, a road surveyor and explorer, after his wife, Laura Bower (''nee'' Poingdestre).
See also
* List of never used railways
This is a list of unused railways, comprising railways and rail infrastructure on which some construction work took place but which were never used for revenue traffic as intended:
Railways not operated
These are projects which failed completely, ...
* List of rivers of Queensland
This is a list of rivers of Australia. Rivers are ordered alphabetically, by state. The same river may be found in more than one state as many rivers cross state borders.
Longest rivers nationally
Longest river by state or territory
Althoug ...
References
{{Rivers of Queensland
Rivers of Far North Queensland