Purari River

Geobox River
name = Purari


map_caption = Location of the Purari
country = Papua New Guinea
region = Gulf
length = 470
length_round = 0
length_note =
watershed = 33670
watershed_round = 0
watershed_note =
discharge_location =
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discharge_max_month =
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source_name =
source_location =
source_country = Papua New Guinea
source_elevation = 1240
source_lat_d = 6
source_lat_m = 24
source_lat_s =
source_lat_NS = S
source_long_d = 144
source_long_m = 15
source_long_s =
source_long_EW = E
mouth_name =
mouth_location = Gulf of Papua
mouth_country = Papua New Guinea
mouth_elevation =
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tributary_right =

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image_size =
image_caption = The mouths of the Purari

The Purari is a river in that originates in the south central highlands of Papua New Guinea, flowing Convert|470|km|mi|0 though the Gulf Province to the Gulf of Papua. The Purari has a 33,670 km² (13,000 square miles) drainage basin and is the third largest river in Papua New Guinea.

It is fed mainly by the Kaugel, Erave, Tua and Pio rivers, starting just south of Mount Karimui at the junction of the Tua and Pio rivers, where it flows through a quite spectacular gorge before flowing out into the lowlands and delta country closer to the coast. Along the river in various places there are small human populations, mostly subsistence villages. Dugout canoes are seen along the river from Wabo downstream, however population is sparse until you get closer to the coast where there are a few more villages.

The general area is heavy tropical jungle with high rainfall and abundant birdlife. The Purari is a heavy muddy brown from silts washed down from the mountains, and rises and falls constantly depending on local rainfall. It is also tidal a substantial distance from the coast.

The headwaters of the river were charted in 1930 by Michael Leahy and Michael Dwyer.