The Lynd River is a river located on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, Australia.

Lynd
Lynd River, Amber, 2013
Lynd River is located in Queensland
Lynd River
Location of Lynd River mouth in Queensland
EtymologyIn honour of Robert Lynd[1]
Location
CountryAustralia
StateQueensland
RegionFar North Queensland
Physical characteristics
SourceGreat Dividing Range
 • locationbelow Mount Poole
 • elevation742 m (2,434 ft)
Mouthconfluence with the Mitchell River
 • location
Highbury
 • coordinates
16°27′50″S 143°18′28″E / 16.46389°S 143.30778°E / -16.46389; 143.30778
 • elevation
96 m (315 ft)
Length323 km (201 mi)
Basin features
River systemMitchell River catchment
Tributaries 
 • rightTate River
National parkForty Mile Scrub National Park
[2]

Course and features

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The headwaters of the river rise in the Forty Mile Scrub National Park in the Great Dividing Range and flows in a north westerly direction. It flows down the range and onto the plains of the Gulf Country past cattle stations such Torwood, The Lake outstation and Bulimba. Continuing north it discharges into the Mitchell River near Staaten River National Park. From source to mouth, the Lynd River is joined by twenty tributaries including the Tate River, descending 647 metres (2,123 ft) over its 323-kilometre (201 mi) course.[2] In its upper reaches, the river is crossed by the Kennedy Highway.

The Mitchell River Fan Aggregation, a 7,149-square-kilometre (2,760 sq mi) freshwater wetland area located approximately south east of Kowanyama, is fed by the Mitchell, Palmer and Lynd Rivers.[3]

Riparian vegetation found along the river include Melaleuca fluviatilis, Casuarina cunninghamiana, Pandanus spiralis and Ficus racemosa which provide most of the cover.[4]

The traditional owners of the upper catchment area are the Kunjen peoples.[5]

Etymology

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The river was named in 1844 in honour of Lieutenant Robert Lynd of the 63rd Regiment of the British Army by Ludwig Leichhardt during Leichhardt's expedition from Queensland to Port Essington. Lynd was a benefactor of Leichhardt's, and assisted him both socially and financially.[1][6] William Hann also passed through the area as part of his 1872 expedition camping along the river before moving on to the Palmer River.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Lynd River (entry 20297)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Map of Lynd River, QLD". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  3. ^ Burrows, D. W. (1 December 2004). "A review of aquatic, management issues and needs for the Northern Gulf NRM planning region" (PDF). James Cook University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  4. ^ Doew, John Leslie (1 December 2004). "A survey of dominant riparian vegetation at selected sites in the Georgian Area, Northern Gulf Region" (PDF). James Cook University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Kutjal". AusAnthrop Australian Aboriginal tribal database. Ausanthrop. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Ludwig Leichhardt". Townsville Daily Bulletin. 9 February 1945. p. 3. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ Jack, Robert Logan (1921). "Northmost Australia". Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015 – via Project Gutenberg.