Examine individual changes

'{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2007}} {{Infobox River | river_name = Daintree River | image_name = Dtr1.jpg | caption = Daintree River mouth | origin = [[Daintree National Park]] | mouth = [[Pacific Ocean]] | basin_countries = [[Australia]] | length = 140 km (87 mi) | elevation = ~ 1100m (3609 ft) | discharge = 40 m³/s (1412 ft³/s) | watershed = 2,125 km² (820 mi²) }} The '''Daintree River''' runs through the [[Daintree Rainforest]] in the [[Cape Tribulation]] region of [[Queensland]] in northern [[Australia]]. It is located about 100 kilometres northwest of Cairns in far north tropical Queensland and drains an area of 2,125 square kilometres. The river, along with the Daintree Rainforest encircled by it was given [[World Heritage|Wet Tropics Word Heritage Listing]] in 1988. The area is now primarily a [[tourist attraction]]. ==Attraction== [[Image:Daintree ferry.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Daintree River ferry]] People are drawn to the area for its [[ancient]] vegetation, scenic surroundings and the vast array of native wildlife and plant matter that inhabit the area. Currently there is no bridge to enable crossing the river, so access is limited to the [[Daintree River Ferry]], a commercial ferry that transverses the river for the purpose of tourism. Other features that surround the river include [[Black Mountain National Park|Black Mountain]], [[Daintree Rainforest|Daintree Range]], [[Thornton Peak]] and the [[Cape Tribulation, Queensland|Cape Tribulation]] Rainforest. The Daintree River is home to a dazzling array of [[tropical]] life. It supports saltwater and freshwater marine life, including the [[saltwater crocodile]]. The mouth of the Daintree River opens onto a giant [[sandbar]] that shifts with each changing tide. The river winds through thick [[mangrove]] swamps where the water remains very salty. As it progresses through the rainforest, the water turns fresh. At this convergence point, an abundance of [[wildlife]] congregate, particularly fish. ==History== Due to the ever-shifting deep centre of the sandbar, entering the Daintree River has always been a problem for ship captains. The area was missed by Captain Cook when passing in the voyage where his ship was wrecked on the [[Great Barrier Reef]]. The Daintree River was first discovered in 1873 after [[European ethnic groups|European]]s were attracted to nearby regions due to its vast natural reserves of [[gold]]. The river was discovered by [[George Elphinstone Dalrymple]], who was the Queensland Gold Commissioner on the [[Gilbert gold field]] at that time. He named the river after [[Richard Daintree]], who was an English [[geologist]] and the Agent-General for Queensland in London. ==World Heritage Listing== World Heritage Wet Tropic Listing was given to the river in recognition of "its outstanding natural universal value as an outstanding example representing; the major stages of Earths evolutionary history, significant ongoing ecological and biological processes, superlative natural phenomena and as containing important and significant habitats for in situ conservation of biological diversity. The river is part of a much larger region in Northern Queensland encompassing 894,000 hectres. [[Image:DaintreeConfluent.jpg|thumb|Confluent of tributary (foreground) and the Daintree (background)]] ==Flooding== The river is surrounded by mountains and deep valleys. Combined with the climatic conditions of the area the river is prone to quickly developing floods without little warning due to the high rainfalls on the 1000 metre high mountain ranges around the catchment and the influence of the cyclonic forces in the adjacent Coral Sea. In March 1996, record [[flood]] levels swamped roads and properties throughout the Daintree region. Statistics gathered at the time recorded 606 millimetres of [[rain]] falling in 24 hours. '''In 2011 two new causeways''' were completed over Cape Tribulation Road, making the drive mostly floodproof in all but the most severe rain events. ''In particular, the notorious bottleneck at Cooper Creek was raised 3 metres.'' ==Indigenous Population== The [[Kuku Yulanji]], an indigenous tribe once inhabited the regions surrounded by the Daintree River. The tribe were [[hunter-gatherers]] that lived in groups of eight to twelve, camped along the banks of the river. They lived on a staple diet that included the vegetation from the forest surrounding the Daintree and practiced a culture unique to Indigenous tribes in Australia. It has been estimated that the tribe resided on the banks of the Daintree river for over 9,000 years. ==Ancient Flora and Fauna== The river and its surroundings are home to some of the most primitive forms of animal and plant life in the world. The surrounding mountains and valleys provided protection from the forces to adapt to climate change by sheltering several species of plants. A notable example is the primitive She-oak ''[[Gymnostoma australianum]]''. This pine-like tree is the only remaining species in the [[Gymnostoma]] group of plants in Australia, and is now restricted to very isolated pockets north of the Daintree River. The genus was once widespread throughout [[Gondwana]], and its relatives are still found in parts of the Pacific and south-east Asia. Of the five species of ringtail possum found in north Queensland rainforests, the [[Daintree River Ringtail Possum]] (''Pseudochirulus cinereus'') is almost wholly restricted to the Daintree catchment. Within the park, this species is found only in upland rainforest on Thornton Peak and the upper reaches of the Daintree and [[Mossman]] Rivers. Once considered a light-coloured form of the [[Herbert River Ringtail Possum]], commonly found throughout the [[Atherton Tablelands]], it was described as a distinct species in 1989. Black and white [[Striped Possum]]s (''Dactylopsila trivirgata'') are quite common throughout the park, particularly in the coastal lowlands north of the Daintree River, although to see one while spotlighting requires a mixture of luck and know-how. [[Image:FemaleCrocodile DaintreeRiver.jpg|thumb|Female Crocodile in the wild in the Daintree River]] Due to the river's isolation saltwater crocodiles have flourished in recent years. There have been numerous reports of deaths in the Daintree River from crocodile attacks, so it is important not to step close to the riverbank and absolutely never swim in the river. ==External links and references== [http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/world_heritage_areas/wet_tropics/ The Environmental Protection Authority Queensland] [http://www.daintreerainforest.com The Daintree Rainforest Project] [http://www.daintreevillage.asn.au Daintree Village Tourism Association] [http://www.deh.gov.au/heritage/worldheritage/sites/wettropics/ World Heritage: Wet Tropics of Australia] {{coord|16|17|S|145|27|E|display=title|region:AU_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}} [[Category:Rivers of Queensland]] [[Category:Far North Queensland]] [[fr:Daintree River]] [http://www.destinationdaintree.com Visitor Information about the Daintree]'