Purari River

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Purari
The mouths of the Purari
Country	Papua New Guinea
Region	Gulf
Length	470 km (292 mi)
Watershed	33,670 km² (13,000 sq mi)
Source
- coordinates	6°24′S 144°15′E / -6.4, 144.25
- elevation	1,240 m (4,068 ft)
Mouth
- location	Gulf of Papua, Papua New Guinea
Location of the Purari

The Purari is a river in that originates in the south central highlands of Papua New Guinea, flowing 470 kilometres (292 mi) 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.