Strickland River

The Strickland River is a major river in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. It is the longest and largest tributary of the Fly River with a total length of 824 km (512 mi) including the Lagaip River the farthest distance river source of the Strickland River. It was named after Edward Strickland, vice-president of the Geographical Society of Australasia^[3] by the New Guinea Exploration Expedition of 1885.

Strickland
Location of the Strickland
Location
Country	Papua New Guinea
Region	Western Province
Physical characteristics
Source	Central Range
• location	Confluence of Lagaip and Ok Om (Papua New Guinea)
• coordinates	5°8′49.9632″S 142°18′9.1404″E
• elevation	468 m (1,535 ft)
2nd source	Lagaip River
• location	Central Range
• coordinates	5°38′52.692″S 143°36′48.7404″E
• elevation	2,710 m (8,890 ft)
3rd source	Ok Om River
• location	Central Range
• coordinates	4°58′30.612″S 141°51′9.2592″E
• elevation	1,955 m (6,414 ft)
Mouth	Fly River
• location	Everill Junction
• coordinates	7°35′S 141°23′E
• elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Length	824 km (512 mi)[1]
Basin size	36,740 km2 (14,190 sq mi)[1]
Discharge
• location	Everill Junction (near mouth)
• average	(Period: 1999–2019)3,327.5 m3/s (117,510 cu ft/s)[1] 4,000 m3/s (140,000 cu ft/s)[2]
Discharge
• location	Herbert, Western Province (Papua New Guinea)
• average	(Period: 1999–2019)3,274.8 m3/s (115,650 cu ft/s)[1] 3,500 m3/s (120,000 cu ft/s)[2]
• minimum	1,200 m3/s (42,000 cu ft/s)[2]
• maximum	4,500 m3/s (160,000 cu ft/s)[2]
Basin features
River system	Fly River
Tributaries
• left	Lagaip, Liddle, Carrington, Aiema
• right	Ok Om, Murray, Herbert

Discharge

Strickland River at Herbert (2004–2019):^[1]

Year	Average discharge (m3/s)
2019	3,370
2018	3,327
2017	4,027
2016	3,434
2015	2,467
2014	3,371
2013	3,450
2012	3,625
2011	3,563
2010	3,800
2009	3,270
2008	3,643
2007	3,004
2006	2,525
2005	3,036
2004	2,509

Tributary

Strickland River List of tributaries by length.

• Lagaip River 213 km (132 mi)
• Ok Om River 90 km (56 mi)
• Upper Lagaip River 68.2 km (42.4 mi)
• Kera River 46 km (29 mi)
• Porgera River 44 km (27 mi)

Environmental concerns

The Porgera Gold Mine, run by Barrick Gold, is a mine near Strickland, which is the source of environmental concerns in the area. Since 1992, Barrick Gold has dumped mine waste, particularly metal particulates or tailings, directly into the river. This process of riverine disposal by the mine has led to much controversy, with numerous deaths and environmental problems being blamed on the metal particulates.

See also

• Strickland River languages