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The Australian Museum is closed to the public until mid-2020 to enable a major renovation. Project Discover is creating a renewed museum to match its world-class collection.
In this section, there's a wealth of information about our collections of scientific specimens and cultural objects. Come and explore what our researchers, curators and education programs have to offer!
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Citizen science
Streamwatch
Water and catchment
The water cycle

The water cycle

Author(s)

Greg McDonald
Updated

13/12/18
Read time

A minute

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Water cycle diagram

The water cycle — The water that existed on the earth millions of years ago is still with us today. Image: -
© Australian Museum

water cycle

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Also in this section

Water around the world
Why is water important?
NSW catchments
Water properties
What is fresh water?
The managed water cycle
Be waterwise
Drinking Water

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Diving Beetle life cycle

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managed water cycle

The managed water cycle

The natural water cycle has been modified by people to ensure a constant water supply and the safe disposal of wastewater.

What is a catchment?

A catchment is an area of land, usually surrounded by mountains or hills, over which water flows and is collected.

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Ascidians - Urochordata

Sydney has over 80 species of ascidians. Ascidians belong to the subphylum Urochordata - one of the major groups of the phylum Chordata, which includes the vertebrates (fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals).

Citizen Science Grant Announcement

Water and catchment

Learn about the value of water and how we manage our waterways and catchments.

Water around the world
Water cycle
Managed water cycle

Dragonflies and damselflies: Order Odonata

Dragonflies and damselflies are large, conspicuous insects generally found near freshwater habitats. They are an ancient and successful group that was around long before the dinosaurs evolved.

Damselfly life cycle - Austrolestes sp.

Damselfly life cycle

Damselflies are insects. They have three stages in their life cycle: egg - larva - adult. They have a long and slender abdomen, two pairs of wings and three pairs of long legs. They also have very large eyes.

Spotted Marsh Frog Life cycle, Limnodynastes tasmaniensis

Spotted Marsh Frog Life cycle

The life cycle of a Spotted Marsh Frog, Limnodynastes tasmaniensis.

Green and Golden Bell Frog Life cycle - Litoria aurea

Green and Golden Bell Frog Life cycle

Green and Golden Bell Frogs are amphibians. They have four stages in their life cycle: egg - tadpole - metamorph - adult.

Cybister tripunctatus

Three-punctured Diving Beetle

Three-punctured Diving Beetle

Huntsman spider and its worm parasite

Gordian Worms

Gordian Worms

Dragonfly life cycle - Hemianax sp.

Dragonfly life cycle

Dragonflies are insects. They have three stages in their life cycle: egg - larva - adult. Adult dragonflies have a long and slender abdomen, two pairs of wings and three pairs of legs. They also have very large eyes.

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The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.
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This website may contain names, images and voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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