Kiewa River

Last updated

Kiewa River
Kiewa River East branch, West Kiewa River (and various other forms) [1]
Mt Beauty Tawonga South aerial.jpg
Aerial view of Kiewa River,
flowing through the town of Mount Beauty (upper right), 2009.
Australia Victoria relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location of the Kiewa River mouth
on the Victoria/New South Wales border
Etymology Aboriginal: cy-a-nun-a, sweet; wher-ra, water [2]
Location
Country Australia
State Victoria
Region Victorian Alps (IBRA)
Local government areas Alpine, Indigo
Physical characteristics
SourceKiewa River East branch
 • locationbelow Mount Bogong, near Clover Power Station
 • coordinates 36°47′57″S147°13′28″E / 36.79917°S 147.22444°E / -36.79917; 147.22444
 • elevation681 m (2,234 ft)
Source confluenceWest Kiewa River
 • locationbelow the town of Mount Beauty
 • coordinates 36°43′00″S147°9′29″E / 36.71667°S 147.15806°E / -36.71667; 147.15806
Mouth confluence with the Murray River
 • location
southeast of Albury and east of Wondonga
 • coordinates
 36°6′49″S146°56′51″E / 36.11361°S 146.94750°E / -36.11361; 146.94750 Coordinates: 36°6′49″S146°56′51″E / 36.11361°S 146.94750°E / -36.11361; 146.94750
 • elevation
156 m (512 ft)
Length109 km (68 mi)
Basin size1,750 km2 (680 sq mi)
Basin features
River system North-East Murray catchment,
Murray–Darling basin
Tributaries 
 • leftPretty Valley Creek, Diamantina Creek, Running Creek (Victoria), Glen Creek, House Creek (Victoria), Hellhole Creek, Yackandandah Creek
 • rightRocky Valley Creek, Bogong Creek, Mountain Creek (Victoria), Gipsy Creek, Bay Creek, Mullagong Creek
Reservoir Lake Guy
[3] [4]

Kiewa River, a perennial river that is part of the Murray catchment within the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the Alpine bioregion, in the Australian state of Victoria.

Contents

The Kiewa River is also known by several variations on its name in its upper reaches, variously named as Kiewa River East branch and West Kiewa River (or similar). [1]

The name Kiewa is an Aboriginal word, derived from cy-a-nun-a, meaning sweet, and wher-ra, meaning water. [2]

Location and features

The river rises near Clover Power Station, on the slopes of Mount Bogong, the highest mountain in Victoria at 1,986 metres (6,516 ft). The main river is formed by the confluence of the Kiewa River East branch and West Kiewa River. The Kiewa River flows generally north northwest, joined by eleven minor tributaries, towards its confluence with the Murray River, southeast of Albury and east of Wodonga. The main river descends 525 metres (1,722 ft) over its 109 kilometres (68 mi) course, [3] sedately through cleared farming country downstream of Mount Beauty; while the West Kiewa River descends 850 metres (2,790 ft) over its 29 kilometres (18 mi) course, [4] in near-pristine ash and peppermint forest country where the flow is swift,[ citation needed ] upstream of the town of Mount Beauty.

Snowfall is common in the upper reaches of the river during winter, with up to 90 inches (230 cm) precipitation, mainly as snow. [5]

The river is impounded by Lake Guy at 658 metres (2,159 ft) above sea level and other dams associated with the Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme, which traps waters flowing from the Bogong High Plains. The McKay Creek and West Kiewa power stations are the major generating elements of the Scheme, which provides peak load to the Victorian electricity grid.

Within the Kiewa Valley are the towns of Mount Beauty, Tawonga, Tangambalanga/Kiewa Township, and Yackandandah. The river is crossed by the Murray Valley Highway at Killara, near its mouth. The Kiewa Valley Highway is located adjacent to much of the course of the river. [3]

Recreation activities

Tawonga Huts, a series of huts and ruins, are located on the lower reaches of the West Kiewa River, within Alpine National Park and are accessible by experienced hikers. [6] The Kiewa is a popular fly fishing stream for local anglers as it holds good populations of wild brown and rainbow trout. The East and West branches of the Kiewa provide important white water paddling opportunities for Victorian kayakers. The most reliable time to paddle is in spring during the snow melt. The upper reaches of the Kiewa River and the Bogong High Plains are a very popular area for Cross-country skiing through winter and through to the early spring months.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Bogong</span> Mountain in Victoria, Australia

Mount Bogong,, located in the Alpine National Park and part of the Victorian Alps of the Great Dividing Range, is the highest mountain in Victoria, Australia, at 1,986 metres (6,516 ft) above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Beauty, Victoria</span> Town in Victoria, Australia

Mount Beauty is a small town in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. The town lies alongside the Kiewa River, at the junction of the Kiewa Valley Highway and Bogong High Plains Road in the Alpine Shire local government area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ovens River</span> The Ovens River joins the Murray River a little east of the twin towns of Yarrawonga and Mulwala.

The Ovens River, a perennial river of the north-east Murray catchment, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the alpine and Hume regions of the Australian state of Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bogong High Plains</span> Mountains in Australia

The Bogong High Plains, part of the Victorian Alps of the Great Dividing Range, are a section of plains located in the Alpine National Park in the Australian state of Victoria and are situated south of Mount Bogong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme</span>

The Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme is the largest hydro-electric scheme in the Australian state of Victoria and the second-largest in mainland Australia after the Snowy Mountains Scheme. The scheme is situated in the Australian Alps in north-eastern Victoria about 350 kilometres from Melbourne and is wholly owned by AGL Energy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suggan Buggan River</span> River in Victoria, Australia

The Suggan Buggan River is a perennial river of the Snowy River catchment, located in the Alpine region of the Australian state of Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buckland River (Victoria)</span> River in Victoria, Australia

The Buckland River, a perennial river of the North-East Murray catchment of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the alpine region of Victoria, Australia. It flows from the eastern slopes of the Buffalo Range in the Australian Alps, joining with the Ovens River at Porepunkah.

The Tarwin River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the South Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria. The Tarwin River is the primary river system within South Gippsland Shire and has a catchment area of approximately 1,500 square kilometres (580 sq mi), predominantly rural with small pockets of residential land use. It flows south from the Strzlecki Ranges and discharges in the eastern reaches of Anderson Inlet, a shallow estuary connected to Bass Strait.

The Dargo River is a perennial river of the Mitchell River catchment, located in the Alpine and East Gippsland regions of the Australian state of Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big River (Mitta Mitta River, Victoria)</span> River in Victoria, Australia

The Big River, a perennial river of the North-East Murray catchment of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the East Gippsland and alpine regions of Victoria, Australia. It flows from the northern slopes of Falls Creek in the Australian Alps, joining with the Cobungra River near Anglers Rest to form the Mitta Mitta River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little River (Snowy River National Park)</span> River in Victoria, Australia

The Little River is a perennial river of the Snowy River catchment, located in the Alpine region of the Australian state of Victoria. It is one of two rivers of the same name that are tributaries of the Snowy River, the other being the Little River.

The Humffray River is a perennial river of the Mitchell River catchment, located in the Alpine region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Wongungarra River is a perennial river of the Mitchell River catchment, located in the Alpine region of the Australian state of Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberfeldy River</span> River in Victoria, Australia

The Aberfeldy River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the Alpine region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Barkly River, a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, is located in the Alpine region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Little River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the alpine region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Buffalo River, a perennial river of the North-East Murray catchment of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the alpine region of Victoria, Australia. It flows from the eastern slopes of the Buffalo Range in the Australian Alps, joining with the Ovens River west of Myrtleford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catherine River (Victoria)</span> River in Victoria, Australia

The Catherine River, a perennial river of the North-East Murray catchment of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the alpine region of Victoria, Australia. It flows Northwards in the Alpine National Park in the Australian Alps, joining with the Buffalo River in remote national park territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dandongadale River</span> River in Victoria, Australia

The Dandongadale River, a perennial river of the North-East Murray catchment of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the alpine region of Victoria, Australia. It flows from the northern slopes of the Alpine National Park in the Australian Alps, joining with the Buffalo River in remote national park territory.

The Rose River, a perennial river of the North-East Murray catchment of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the alpine region of Victoria, Australia. It flows from the northern slopes of the Mount Buffalo National Park in the Australian Alps, joining with the Dandongadale River in remote national park territory.

References

  1. 1 2 "Search: Kiewa River". VICNAMES. Government of Victoria (Australia) . Retrieved 18 February 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 "Kiewa River: Origin/history". VICNAMES. Government of Victoria. 2 May 2011. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Map of Kiewa River". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Map of Kiewa River West Branch". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  5. ↑ "Management Plan" (PDF). Alpine National Park: Bogong Planning Unit. Department of Conservation and Environment. September 1992. p. Summary. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  6. ↑ "Walks around the historic huts". Apine National Park. Parks Victoria . Retrieved 18 February 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.