STOP PRESS – The discovery of the true source of the Oxus River (Amu Darya); Kate & Larapinta on SBS

The Oxus River/Amu Darya was the last major river in the world of which the ultimate source was unidentified. As reported in my final expedition blog, Rupert McCowan, Malang Darya, Adrian Dmoch and myself completed a successful trek to locate the source of the Chelab Stream that, by extension, is the true source of the Oxus/Amu Darya. In doing so we solved the 3,000 year mystery of the true source of Central Asia’s greatest river.

Rupert and I authored a peer reviewed article for the Royal Society for Asian Affairs academic journal, Asian Affairs, that was published last week. In it we delve into the geographical science and the justification for Lake Malang, at the head of the West Stream of the Chelab, for being the true source of the Oxus River.

To access the article, CLICK HERE

To promote the article The University of Western Australia has produced a media statement. I’m also looking for help to circulate it to media, journalists, organisations and institutions that may have an interest in our findings.

Access the media statement CLICK HERE

Kate & Larapinta on SBS

In 2018, I completed a short, two-week expedition along the Finke River, also known as Larapinta, possibly the oldest river in the world. Cycling over trackless terrain, through stunning gorges and seemingly endless beds of large river stones and soft sand, it was perhaps the roughest cycle expedition I’ve done.

Here’s an article I wrote about the expedition for Overland Europe and MTB Australia: CLICK HERE

Brian Cohen, the filmmaker I engaged for the expedition, recently made a short film about the journey that has been taken on by SBS.

LOGLINE: Kate Leeming embarks on a 700km solo cycle along Australia’s remote Finke River. Battling searing heat, mechanical failures and exhaustion, she confronts physical limits and inner ghosts, turning her epic journey into a meditation on purpose, resilience, and what it takes to keep going.