In 1862 John McDouall Stuart explored a stream arising in Arnhem Land and flowing southwest to the Daly River. He named it Katherine River, after the daughter of an acquaintance. The river flows through stunning Katherine Gorge, the walls of which are colored by red and brown quartzite. The gorge is a national park that attracts tourists with its sandy beaches, excellent fishing, and opportunities for solitude. It also has been considered as a site for an irrigation dam
