McArthur River
| McArthur | |
|---|---|
McArthur River at Borroloola, 2011 | |
| Etymology | James McArthur |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| Territory | Northern Territory |
| Region | Katherine Region |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Barkly Tableland |
| • location | east of Elliott |
| • elevation | 234 m (768 ft) |
| Mouth | Gulf of Carpentaria |
• location | east of Borroloola |
• coordinates | 15°54′S 136°40′E / 15.900°S 136.667°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 521 km (324 mi) |
| Basin size | 20,010 km2 (7,730 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 103.6 m3/s (3,660 cu ft/s) |
The McArthur River is a river in the Northern Territory of Australia which flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria at Port McArthur, opposite the Sir Edward Pellew Group of Islands. The river was named by Ludwig Leichhardt while he explored the area in 1845. He named the River after James MacArthur and the MacArthur family of Camden, who were enthusiastic supporters of his expedition. The McArthur River has significance for the local Aboriginal communities, who use it for fishing and other traditional activities.