Maranoa River

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Maranoa
Mitchell Maranoa River DSC03260.JPG
Downstream of the Maranoa River at Mitchell
Australia Queensland relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location of the Maranoa River mouth
in Queensland
Location
Country Australia
State Queensland
Region South West Queensland
Physical characteristics
SourceConsuelo Tableland
Source confluenceEast and West branches of the Maranoa River
  location Carnarvon National Park
  coordinates 25°17′20″S147°46′02″E / 25.28889°S 147.76722°E / -25.28889; 147.76722
  elevation574 m (1,883 ft)
Mouth confluence with the Balonne River
  location
Lake Kajarabie
  coordinates
27°50′11″S148°36′57″E / 27.83639°S 148.61583°E / -27.83639; 148.61583
  elevation
207 m (679 ft)
Length519 km (322 mi)
Basin size20,039 km2 (7,737 sq mi)
Basin features
River system Darling River catchment,
Murray–Darling basin
Tributaries 
  left Merivale River
National park Carnarvon National Park
[1] [2]

The Maranoa River, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is a river situated in South West Queensland, Australia.

Contents

Course and features

Formed by the confluence of the west and east branches of the river, the Maranoa River rises on the Consuelo Tableland in the Carnarvon National Park. The valleys in the river's catchment area are broad rather than gorge-like as in the nearby Carnarvon Gorge, with isolated bluffs and pillars of sandstone on sandy plains. [3] The Maranoa passes through Mitchell and flows south towards St George. The river reaches its confluence with the Balonne River north of St George. The Balonne eventually flows into the Darling River (via a few branches), so it contributes to the Murray-Darling Basin. From source to mouth, the Maranoa is joined by 31 tributaries including the Merivale River and descends 366 metres (1,201 ft) over its 519-kilometre (322 mi) course. [1]

The Warrego Highway crosses the river at Mitchell.

The Neil Turner Weir was built on the river in 1984. It provides limited supplies for irrigation purposes. [4] It also regulates streamflow and has recreational uses.

Major flooding on the river occurred in 1990. [5]

A number of Australian folksongs (such as Sandy Maranoa and The Maranoa Drovers) refer to this river.

See also

Related Research Articles

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Carnarvon National Park is located in the Southern Brigalow Belt bioregion in the Maranoa Region in Central Queensland, Australia. The park is 593 km northwest of Brisbane. It began life as a 26,304-hectare (65,000-acre) reserve gazetted in 1932 to protect Carnarvon Gorge for its outstanding scenic values, its Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultural heritage, and its geological significance.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murray–Darling basin</span> Largest Australian river catchment

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barwon River (New South Wales)</span> River in New South Wales, Australia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warrego River</span> River in Australia

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bungil Creek</span> River in Queensland, Australia

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The Maranoa is the name given to an area of southern Queensland, about 500 kilometres (kms) west of Brisbane. Some refer to the Maranoa as the Western Downs. The Maranoa is an eastern part of the larger, mostly arid South West region of Queensland. To the east is the agricultural region of the Darling Downs and in the west is the dry Channel Country.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnarvon Range</span> Mountain range in Queensland, Australia

The Carnarvon Range is a mountain range in Central Queensland, Australia. It is a plateau section of the Great Dividing Range. The Carnarvon Range is 160 km in length.

The Bokhara River, a watercourse that is part of the Barwon catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the South Downs region of Queensland, flowing downstream into the north–western slopes of New South Wales, Australia. It flows through the lower Balonne floodplain.

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">South West Queensland</span> Region in Queensland, Australia

South West Queensland is a remote region in the Australian state of Queensland which covers 319,808 km2 (123,479 sq mi). The region lies to the south of Central West Queensland and west of the Darling Downs and includes the Maranoa district and parts of the Channel Country. The area is noted for its cattle grazing, cotton farming, opal mining and oil and gas deposits.

References

  1. 1 2 "Map of Maranoa River". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  2. "Water resources: Overview - Queensland". Australian Natural Resources Atlas. Australian Government. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  3. "Mount Moffatt, Carnarvon National Park - Nature, culture and history". Department of Environment and Resource Management. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 26 November 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  4. "Maranoa River". SunWater. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  5. "Flood Warning System For The Condamine-Balonne River Below Cotswold". Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2011.