Mamberamo River

Last updated
Mamberamo
Sungai Mamberamo.jpg
Mamberamo River, aerial view in 2017.
Mamberamo River NASA.jpg
Mamberamo, entering the sea, seen from space.
Location
Country Indonesia
Region Papua
Physical characteristics
Sourceconfluence of Tariku and Taritatu
 • coordinates 2°55′30″S138°26′30″E / 2.92500°S 138.44167°E / -2.92500; 138.44167
Mouth Pacific Ocean
 • location
Teba, Indonesia
 • coordinates
 1°28′S137°54′E / 1.467°S 137.900°E / -1.467; 137.900
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length283 km (176 mi) (Mamberamo–Taritatu–Waruta 1,112 km (691 mi)) [1]
Basin size78,992 km2 (30,499 sq mi) [1]
Depth 
 • minimum3 m (9.8 ft) [2]
 • average8–14 m (26–46 ft) [2]
 • maximum33 m (108 ft) [2]
Discharge 
 • locationMamberamo Delta
 • average5,500 m3/s (190,000 cu ft/s) [1]
Basin features
Progression Pacific Ocean
River system Mamberamo River
Tributaries 
 • left Tariku
 • right Taritatu

The Mamberamo (Indonesian: Sungai Mamberamo) is the second-longest river on the island of New Guinea, after Sepik River (1,126 km) and the second largest in Oceania by discharge volume after Fly. It is located in the Indonesian province of Papua. It is the second largest river in Indonesia by volume of discharge after Kapuas and also the widest. [3]

Contents

The river is formed from the confluence of its upper tributaries, the Tariku and Taritatu Rivers in the Lakes Plains region, an interior basin with extensive freshwater swamp forests and grasslands. It flows northwards between the Van Rees Range (Pegunungan Van Rees) and Foja Mountains through a series of rapids and gorges. The last 160 km of the river are navigable. [4] In the coastal lowlands, the river is lined with marshes and forms a broad river delta. The Mamberamo discharges into the Pacific Ocean at the northern point of Point D'Urville or Cape Narwaku (Tanjung Narwaku).

The river's huge valley is home to various uncontacted peoples and incredible biodiversity. In the 1990s, the Indonesian Government had plans to construct a large hydroelectric dam on the Mamberamo that would have submerged much of the area. This plan was shelved after the Indonesian financial crisis from 1998 to 1999, but there are concerns by environmental groups that it could be resurrected sometime in the future. At present, the Mamberamo remains the second largest river in the world to be completely unfragmented by dams in its catchment, behind only the relatively nearby Fly. [3]

The Mamberamo area also broadly refers to several nearby mountain ranges, including the Van Rees and Foja Mountains (also known as Foya), which were the subject of a recent rapid biological assessment conducted by Conservation International, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, and Cenderawasih University. The scientific team discovered the first new bird species from New Guinea in 60 years, and a wealth of other new plants and animals. The Foya Mountains appear to be a globally outstanding repository of biodiversity.

Hydrology

Its length from the confluence of the Tariku and Taritatu is 283 km (176 mi). From the source of the Waruta, it covers a total distance of 1,112 km (691 mi). It has a catchment area of 79,000 km2 (31,000 sq mi) with an annual rainfall of 3,578 mm (Köppen climate classification classifies this area as type Af). Average width is 175–800 m (574–2,625 ft), depth 8 m (26 ft) (maximum 33 m). [5] [6] [1]

Tributaries

The main tributaries from the mouth:

Left tributary Right tributary Length (km) Basin size (km2) Average discharge (m3/s)
Mamberamo1,11278,9925,500
Tariku (Rouffaer)48824,664.22,086.1
Taritatu (Idenburg)80847,803.22,965.2
Tariku main tributaries
Van Daalen 1403,384.3292.1
Bigabu1504,457.3438.3
Taritatu main tributaries
Dundu1703,282.4254.1
Van der Wal2306,099.9330.5
Sobgair (Air)1807,195.9707.6
Sobger 188.93,551.7376.6
Songgat 131.24,365.6237.1
Waruta 179.24,295.9122.6

[7]

Discharge

Average monthly flow (Q) at delta in 2003–2012: 5,014 m3/s (158.23 km3/year) [8]

Month Q
JAN 6,006 m3/s (212,100 cu ft/s)
FEB 7,749 m3/s (273,700 cu ft/s)
MAR 6,749 m3/s (238,300 cu ft/s)
APR 5,276 m3/s (186,300 cu ft/s)
MAY 4,374 m3/s (154,500 cu ft/s)
JUN 4,629 m3/s (163,500 cu ft/s)
JUL 3,417 m3/s (120,700 cu ft/s)
AUG 4,157 m3/s (146,800 cu ft/s)
SEP 3,515 m3/s (124,100 cu ft/s)
OCT 4,709 m3/s (166,300 cu ft/s)
NOV 3,691 m3/s (130,300 cu ft/s)
DEC 5,896 m3/s (208,200 cu ft/s)

Mamberamo River average discharge:

Period Discharge Ref.
Mamberamo Delta

1°28′S137°54′E / 1.467°S 137.900°E / -1.467; 137.900

2012–2018 163.26346 km3/a (5,173.507 m3/s) [9]
2003–2012 158.23 km3/a (5,014 m3/s) [8]
5,922.9 m3/s (209,170 cu ft/s) [10]
5,500 m3/s (190,000 cu ft/s) [1]
Mamberamo II Hydro Power Plant

2°8′39.6096″S137°51′36.9756″E / 2.144336000°S 137.860271000°E / -2.144336000; 137.860271000

1962–1987 4,532 m3/s (160,000 cu ft/s) [2]

History

The upper Mamberamo River was photographed during the Central-North New Guinea Expedition led by Le Roux COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Het stroomgebied van de boven Mamberano in Nieuw Guinea waar het explorateurs bivak ligt TMnr 10020882.jpg
The upper Mamberamo River was photographed during the Central-North New Guinea Expedition led by Le Roux

In 1545, the Spanish navigator Iñigo Ortiz de Retes sailed along the northern coast of the island as far as the mouth of this river that he charted as San Agustín. At this spot, on 20 June 1545, he claimed the territory for the Spanish Crown, and in the process bestowed the name to the island (Nueva Guinea) by which it is known today.

The first European to enter the mouth of the Mamberamo was Dutchman Dr D. F. van Braam Morris in 1883. The residents from the northern Moluccas (Ternate) rowed up the river to ascertain that it was navigable by steamer. [11] The following year in 1884 Van Braam Morris returned to the steamship Havik and travelled 60 mi (97 km) (as the crow flies) along its course. [12]

The Mamberamo River in 2017 Sungai Mamberamo.jpg
The Mamberamo River in 2017

Mamberamo Foja Wildlife Reserve

The Mamberamo Foja Wildlife Reserve covers an area of 16,610 km2, extending along the Mamberamo and its major tributaries from the Central Range foothills to the Pacific Ocean. It encompasses the central Lakes Plains region and extends southwards along the eastern side of the river to include the Foya Mountains, the river delta, and the sea. [13]

Mamberamo Bridge

The Mamberamo Bridge was the second longest cable-stayed span in Indonesia after Kutai Kartanegara Bridge with 235 meters and 270 meters respectively until the latter bridge collapsed in November 2011.

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foja Mountains</span> Mountain range in Indonesia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mamberamo Foja Wildlife Reserve</span>

Mamberamo Foja Wildlife Reserve is a large protected area on New Guinea, in Indonesia's Papua Province. It covers an area of 16,610 km2, and extends along the Mamberamo River and its tributaries from the foothills of the Central Range to the Pacific Ocean.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Joesron, Loebis (2008). Country Report Implementation of Demonstration Project Mamberamo River Basin Indonesia (PDF) (Report). Indonesian Hydrological Society.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Agus, Sugiyono (2023). PENGEMBANGAN PLTA MAMBERAMO TERINTEGRASS (PDF).
  3. 1 2 "Fragmentation and Flow Regulation of the World's Large River Systems" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  4. ↑ "Mamberamo River". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Accessed 7 June 2020
  5. ↑ Balázs, Dénes (1978). Ausztrália, Óceánia, Antarktisz.
  6. ↑ "Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (EGU)" (PDF). 2021.
  7. ↑ "Papua New Guinea".
  8. 1 2 Pola PSDA Mamberamo Tami Apauvar. 2014.
  9. ↑ Prof. Dr. Ir., San Afri Awang; Sasmita, Nugroho; Dr., Julijanti; Isluyandari, Woelan Yanuartanti (2019). 2018 BUKU 1-KAJIAN PENGANYAN PEMBANGUNAN PULAU PAPUA (PDF).
  10. ↑ Rendy, Firmansyah. "Grafik Neraca Air Pulau Papua".
  11. ↑ Souter (1963) p. 145
  12. ↑ (in Dutch) 'Nieuw Guinea', in de De Locomotief, donderdag 5 maart 1885 no. 57. Visited 2 July 2013
  13. ↑ Petocz, Ronald G. (1989). Conservation and Development in Irian Jaya: A Strategy for Rational Resource Utilization. Brill, 1989.
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