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This part of the Fitzmaurice is the upper reaches. The fresh water region. And this
river system meanders right through these gorges and ranges. Now this is the lifeblood
of this part of the country. Without this river system, all the animals and all the
wildlife, they just wouldn't be able to survive in this region. It's this fresh water which
is permanent fresh water right through the dry season. And that's what sustains all that
life. We've traveled about 35, nearly 40 nautical miles from our basecamp there. Through the
salt water, and now into the fresh water system. But it truly is a magnificent spot. You've
got all those pandanus plants, and you've got these paperbarks. And this water is pure,
fresh, crystal-clear water. It's this stuff that I get excited about.
We're joined on this leg of the trip by Ian, a local ranger.
JASE: This is a pretty cool little spot here, Ian, isn't it?
IAN: Oh, is it ever. JASE: Do you reckon you could say only a handful
of people have been here mate? IAN: I don't think there's been too many people
here at all. JASE: Yeah?
IAN: Well as you've seen it's fairly hard to get up here with all those rock bars and
logs and things. JASE: So you need a little boat hey?
IAN: Yeah. Well I haven't been this far up, I've only been back near the gorge there.
JASE: Yeah, so you haven't even been here? IAN: No, I've never seen this before. When
we come around that corner and seen that log across there, I thought oh no, no further,
but we'll walk up, we'll find out what's around that next corner.
JASE: That's the one, it's always wanting to know what's around the next corner.