Drake River

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Drake River
Drake River
Route of the Drake River
New Zealand (relief map).png
Disc Plain red.svg
Mouth of the Drake River
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Disc Plain red.svg
Drake River (South Island)
EtymologyNamed after Charlie Douglas, an explorer of the region
Location
Country New Zealand
region West Coast Region
District Westland District
Protected area Mount Aspiring National Park
Physical characteristics
Source Drake Range
  location Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
  coordinates 44°13′2″S168°53′38″E / 44.21722°S 168.89389°E / -44.21722; 168.89389
  elevation1,900 m (6,200 ft)
Mouth Waiatoto River
  location
Drake Flats
  coordinates
44°11′0″S168°46′56″E / 44.18333°S 168.78222°E / -44.18333; 168.78222
  elevation
105 m (344 ft)
Length13.7 kilometres (8.5 mi)
Basin features
ProgressionDrake RiverWaiatoto RiverJackson Bay / Okahu
River system Waiatoto River

The Drake River is a river of New Zealand. It is located in southern Westland, and flows entirely within the Mount Aspiring National Park. [1] The river follows a southerly course for seven kilometres before turning northeast to flow another five kilometres before reaching the Waiatoto River. [2]

The tributaries of the river were probably surveyed and named by Mueller in 1885. [3]

There is potential for a 30 MW power-generating plant at the junction of the Drake and Waiatoto Rivers. [4]

See also

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The Waiatoto River is a river of the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Formed from several small rivers which are fed by glaciers surrounding Mount Aspiring / Tititea, it flows north along a valley flanked in the west by the Haast Range before turning northwest to reach the Tasman Sea 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Haast. Much of the river's length is within Mount Aspiring National Park.

The Esk River of Hawke's Bay, in the eastern North Island of New Zealand, one of two rivers of that name in the country, is one of Hawke's Bay's major rivers. It flows south from the slopes of Taraponui in the Maungaharuru Range before turning east to reach Hawke Bay 10 kilometres (6 mi) north of Napier. State Highway 5 follows the lower course of the river for several kilometres close to the settlement of Eskdale. The river is probably named after the Esk River in southern Scotland and north-west England.

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References

  1. "Place name detail: Clearwater River". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board . Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  2. Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. Map 78. ISBN   0-7900-0952-8.
  3. Club, New Zealand Alpine (1951). "New Zealand alpine journal". New Zealand Alpine Journal. 14: 6.
  4. "Renewable Energy Assessment" (PDF). West Coast Regional Council. 4 August 2008. p. 65. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2009.