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Even older than dinosaurs/ The mystery of the world's oldest river that defied time and geology

2026-01-26 20:14:48Histori SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Finke River

When we think about the age of the Earth, we often imagine mountains as symbols of eternity. But geological science tells us a different story: some rivers flowed along the same path long before mountain ranges rose above the surface.

The winner of this "race" of antiquity is the Finke River (known as Larapinta by the indigenous population) in Australia, which is estimated to be between 300 and 400 million years old, predating even the age of dinosaurs.

The secret to the longevity of the Finke River lies in a phenomenon called precession. Geomorphologists have noticed an anomaly: instead of flowing parallel to resistant rock structures, the Finke River cuts through them.

Even older than dinosaurs/ The mystery of the world's oldest river that
Finke River

This proves that the river was there before the Ellis Springs Orogeny (the tectonic event that formed the mountains) occurred. As the earth's crust was pushed up to create the MacDonnell Ranges, the river continued to erode its bed at the same rate, maintaining its original course.

To confirm this astonishing age, scientists use measurements of radionuclides in sediments and radioactive isotopes in surrounding rocks. These "atomic clocks" show that the river system has been active since the Devonian or Carboniferous periods.

The extraordinary stability of the Australian Plate, which has not undergone significant tectonic movements for millions of years, has served as a protective “cradle” for this river. Unlike rivers on other continents that have been wiped out by glaciers or volcanoes, the Finke has survived almost intact.

Today, the Finke River bears little resemblance to the mighty currents we imagine. Due to the arid conditions in central Australia, it flows only intermittently and for most of the year exists as a series of isolated waterholes. However, its future remains uncertain.

Global warming and increased human water consumption threaten to dry up this ancient witness to our planetary history.

Even older than dinosaurs/ The mystery of the world's oldest river that
New River

If Finke were to disappear, the title of "oldest" would pass to the New River in the US, which is about 300 million years old, reminding us that even the most stable features of nature are constantly changing.

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