THE FOOD BOWL OF AUSTRALIA
According to the Aboriginal myth, the Great Ancestor, Ngurunderi, created the Murray River with his tracks while chasing a Murray Cod. Scientists, however, believe it was created 40 million years ago and has remained virtually in the same place since. Today, the over 2,300km-long Murray River continues to cover one-seventh of the continent, flowing through lakes of varying salinity before ending its journey at the Murray Mouth. The dry environment ensured that much of civilisation revolved around this life-giving water source, with many referring it as the “Food Bowl of Australia”.
NGURUNDERI’S TRACKS: THE EXPERIENCE
The Murray River @ River Safari recreates the three unique river systems that make up Australia’s longest river. Trace the Murray’s journey from its source. Starting with fresh water at the top, visitors can trace the Murray’s journey both above and below the water surface as it transforms into a mangrove swamp filled with brackish water before spilling out as salt water into the ocean, represented by reefpool in the exhibit.
As you walk along, you will first notice the change in vegetation – from lush coastal plantlife to a mangrove forest and finally palm trees. The real action, however, happens below the water surface and this exhibit gives you a clear, cross-section view of the river Murray and its aquatic inhabitants, such as the Rainbow Fish & Lungfish.
|
|
Featured Residents
RAINBOW FISH
Adding splashes of colour to the waters of the Murray are the Rainbow Fish. These tiny, freshwater fish can be found in the wilds of Australia and New Guinea and can be generally distinguished by silvery scales which, when exposed to light, take on an iridescent glow in a variety of colours, depending on the sex, age and habitat. Rainbow Fish used to be found across the Murray basin but environmental degradation has led to it disappearing in parts of the river basin.
AUSTRALIAN LUNGFISH
When we say the Australian Lungfish is old, you’d better believe it. This slow-growing fish has ancestors dating back to over 400 million years – way older than the dinosaurs! But what makes the Australian Lungfish truly unique is not just its ability to breath out of water. It also has only one ‘lung’; other species have two. To spot a Lungfish, just look out for a long, heavy dull-coloured body with large, overlapping scales; small eyes and fins resembling flippers. Its numbers are now limited as Lungfish do not like searching for new breeding sites. With river regulation and habitat destruction at old breeding sites, Australian Lungfish continue to have an uncertain future in the wild.
|
