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Rivers, Lakes and Waterways of Australia |
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Australia has many rivers and tributaries, providing not only the necessary
water to many farms and outback stations, but also being the life blood of many
towns, wildlife and fauna. With many rivers also feeding the man-made dams,
these rivers and waterways are also sources of recreational activities, from
fishing, swimming, water skiing, river boat cruises and boat house
accommodation, just to name a few. Australia also have many rivers that appear
to be just dry river beds, as found in Central Australia. Whilst some will have
permanent waterholes, others are far from dry, as is evident by the magnificent
Australian River Red Gum and other trees growing along the river course. These
rivers will have water flowing beneath the river bed, with trees sending their
roots down deep enough to tap the water. Local Aboriginal people were also
skilled at locating spots that were close enough to the surface for them to dig
down.
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Such rivers are sometimes labelled ‘upside-down rivers’, the
Gascoyne River
in Western Australia being one example. The Yarra has also been dubbed ‘the
river that runs upside down’, but this is in reference to its ‘high turbidity’,
which means from the middle reaches, the Yarra carries a lot of suspended silt
downstream. Many of the dry rivers such as the Finke River and the Todd River in Central
Australia, are usually dry for many years, although when they do flow, it is
usually only for short periods, from hours to a couple of weeks, depending on
the amount of rain, and where the water is flowing from. |
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The following are Australia’s longest rivers: |
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| Name |
State |
Approximate
Length (km) |
| Murray |
NSW/SA |
2,520 |
| Murrumbidgee River |
NSW/ACT |
1,575 |
| Darling River (from the
Murray River to Culgoa River) |
NSW |
1,390 |
| Lachlan River |
NSW |
1,370 |
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Source: Geoscience
Australia: Longest
River
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Following are the longest rivers in Australia by State/Territory: |
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| State/Territory |
Name |
Approximate
Length (km) |
| New South Wales |
Murray River |
1,870 |
| Queensland |
Flinders River |
840 |
| Western Australia |
Gascoyne River |
760 |
| South Australia |
Murray River |
650 |
| Victoria |
Goulburn River |
566 |
| Northern Territory |
Victoria |
560 |
| Tasmania |
South Esk River |
214 |
| Australian Capital Territory |
Murrumbidgee |
51
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Source: Geoscience
Australia: Longest
River
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The longest continuous river system in Australia
are: |
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| Name |
State |
Approximate
Length (km) |
| Longest Continuous River
System: Murray-Darling River System |
Queensland / New South Wales
/ South Australia |
3,370 |
| Longest River: Murray |
New South Wales / South
Australia |
2,520 |
| Darling (from the Murray
River to Culgoa River) |
New South Wales |
1,390 |
| Upper Darling (Barwon and
MacIntyre Rivers) |
New South Wales / Queensland |
1,140 |
| Culgoa and Condamine Rivers |
New South Wales / Queensland |
1,350 |
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Source: Geoscience
Australia: Longest
River
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Following are links to some of the rivers, lakes and waterways of
Australia.
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• Map of NSW Main Rivers |
Clyde River
• The Clyde River begins its journey 125
km from Batemans Bay in the rugged mountain region to the north.
Sometimes merely a trickle in the upper reaches, the Clyde River passes
through pristine forest areas and National Parks. As the river nears Batemans
Bay it becomes wider and deeper, with the last 35 km being accessible by larger
water vessels. The Clyde River can be navigated from Shallow Crossing to the
Tollgate Islands at the entrance to Batemans Bay. Batemans Bay is the largest
townon the river.
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Wonboyn River
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Finke River
•
One of the largest rivers in Central Australia, the Finke River System is also
cited as being ‘the oldest river in the world’, with it’s source starting in the
MacDonnell Ranges in the Northern Territory. The River starts at the
confluence of the Davenport and Ormiston Creeks, just north of popular Glen
Helen. It then meanders for some 600 plus kilometres passing through the
Finke
Gorge National Park and like the Hugh, Palmer and Diamantina rivers all flowing
inland, to the western edge of the
Simpson Desert in northern part of South Australia and eventually ending up in
Lake Eyre.
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Todd River
• The origins of the Todd River begin
in the MacDonnell Ranges, where it flows past the Telegraph Station, almost through the
centre of Alice Springs, through Heavitree Gap and continuing on for some
distance before it becomes a tributary of the Hale River, that eventually
flows into Lake Eyre in South Australia. On the surface, the Todd River is usually a dry river bed, with the occasional
water hole along it's length. The River Red Gum seen growing along the river
course, is an indicator of water not far belong the river bed surface.
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Tamar River
•
The majestic Tamar River meanders for 58 km through the
Tamar Valley region of
high-yielding vineyard country, orchards, scenic farmland
and forests from
Launceston
through to Port Dalrymple and the sea of Bass Strait. Fed by the South and North
Esk Rivers where they merge at Launceston to become the Tamar River, there are
shore access pontoons conveniently located along the riverbanks and offers a
great place to cast a line for the variety of saltwater fish. Other smaller
rivers and streams also feed into the Tamar River offering opportunities for
freshwater fishing.
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Geoscience
Australia
• Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave & Hindmarsh Drv, SYMONSTON ACT 2609
• Ph: 02
6249 9111 • Fax: 02 6249 9999
• National agency for geoscience
research and geospatial information.
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