Katherine River is located in the Northern Territory, Australia. Its headwaters are in Nitmiluk National Park, it flows through the town of Katherine, and is a major tributary of the Daly River.
The first European explorer to see the river was John McDouall Stuart on 4 July 1862, and named it Katherine after Catherine Chambers, the second daughter of expedition sponsor James Chambers. The major town Katherine was named after the river.
In late January, 1998, heavy rain associated with Cyclone Les raised the level of the river by more than 20 metres and flooded a large part of Katherine town. A more recent flood on 6 April 2006 caused a state of emergency to be declared. During this event the river peaked at a height of just below 19 metres at the Katherine bridge on the Stuart Highway.
Famous quotes containing the words katherine and/or river:
“Don’t use that word, Frank. We don’t like it. Say rather that we are undead, immortal.”
—Eric Taylor. Robert Siodmak. Katherine Caldwell (Louise Allbritton)
“We approached the Indian Island through the narrow strait called “Cook.” He said, “I ‘xpect we take in some water there, river so high,—never see it so high at this season. Very rough water there, but short; swamp steamboat once. Don’t paddle till I tell you, then you paddle right along.” It was a very short rapid. When we were in the midst of it he shouted “paddle,” and we shot through without taking in a drop.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)