American River

	American River SA 5221
	Population: 250, Height above sea level: Island Latitude: 35.4652 Longitude: 137.4622 Location: 200km south west of Adelaide Highway: Ferry from Cape Jervis Nearest Major Town: Adelaide Nearest Airport: Kingscote Touring Area: Kangaroo Island
Township on Kangaroo Island south east of Adelaide off the Fleurieu Peninsula. It was first visited by Europeans in 1802 when Matthew Flinders sailed along the north coast of Kangaroo Island. The town takes its name from a group of American sealers who camped for four months in the area in 1883. They arrived on the brig Union and built their own 35 ton schooner Independence from local timber. A memorial plaque and accompanying anchor (recovered in 1969) from an early American whaling vessel is dedicated to the crew of the Union.