Finke River of Australia

The Finke River of Australia, known as Larapinta in the Indigenous Arrernte language, is widely regarded as the oldest river in the world, with scientists estimating its age to be between 300 and 400 million years.

Location and Extent
The river system stretches for over 400 miles (around 640 km) across Northern Territory and South Australia, forming a vast network of ancient streams and channels.

Flow Characteristics
Due to the arid conditions in central Australia, the Finke River flows only intermittently. For most of the year, it appears as a series of isolated waterholes rather than a continuously flowing river.

Geological Age
Scientific evidence suggests the river system dates back to the Devonian period (419–359 million years ago) or the Carboniferous period (359–299 million years ago).

Scientific Evidence
Researchers used a combination of:

• Geological records
• Weathering profiles
• Radionuclide measurements of surrounding sediments and rocks
  to establish the river’s extraordinary age.

Key Geological Feature
One of the strongest indicators of its ancient origin is cross-axial drainage. Unlike most rivers that flow along zones of weaker rock, the Finke River cuts across hard, resistant quartzite formations while passing through the MacDonnell Ranges in central Australia.

Source: Live Science