Onkaparinga River

Onkaparinga River
Onkaparinga River

Onkaparinga Estuary
Origin Between Charleston and Mount Torrens
Mouth Port Noarlunga
Length 95 km
Source elevation 650 m
Basin area 562 km²

The Onkaparinga River runs from its source between Mount Torrens and Charleston in the Mount Lofty Ranges, and flows south westerly to an estuary at Port Noarlunga. The catchment is over 500 km² in area, and is in part located in the Onkaparinga River National Park.

The Onkaparinga River is the second major river of the Adelaide region, after the River Torrens. The name derives from the Indigenous Kaurna name Ngangiparri which translates as "The Women's River". In 1837 William Light named it Field's River, or the Field River, after Lieut William George Field RN (1804-1850) of the brig Rapid, who carried out the first surveys in the vicinity, but Governor George Gawler soon reinstated the Indigenous name.

It is a source of fresh water for the city, Mount Bold Reservoir was constructed between 1932 and 1938 along a section of its path approximately 20km inland. Much of its flow diverted via a tunnel from the Clarendon Weir to the Happy Valley Reservoir, that in turn supplies some 40 per cent of Adelaide's water supply. Most years the flow to the reservoir is supplemented by water pumped from the River Murray via a pipeline from Murray Bridge.


Downstream from Mount Bold Reservoir is the Clarendon Weir. To maintain levels at Clarendon Weir, water is released only as required. The Onkaparinga Gorge extends from Clarendon to Old Noarlunga. An estuary extends from Old Noarlunga to the river's mouth at Port Noarlunga. The estuary is a significant breeding area for local marine fish species.

Onkaparinga Estuary in Winter at late afternoon looking East towards Onkaparinga River National Park.

The Coast to Vines rail trail crosses over the river just west of where Main South Road crosses over.

External links

Coordinates: 35°10′S 138°28′E / 35.167°S 138.467°E / -35.167; 138.467


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Onkaparinga River National Park — IUCN Category II (National Park) …   Wikipedia

  • Onkaparinga-River-Nationalpark — Onkaparinga Verlauf im Nationalpark …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Onkaparinga Hills, South Australia — Onkaparinga Hills South Australia Spriggs Road Population: 2,693 (2006 Census) …   Wikipedia

  • Onkaparinga — /ɒŋkəpəˈrɪŋgə/ (say ongkuhpuh ringguh) noun a river in southern SA, rising in the Mount Lofty Ranges and flowing south east into Gulf St Vincent. About 50 km. {Australian Aboriginal; Kaurna ngangki parri ngka on the women s river} …  

  • City of Onkaparinga — South Australia Population: 160,404(2009 …   Wikipedia

  • Parque Nacional Río Onkaparinga — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Parque Nacional Río Onkaparinga …   Wikipedia Español

  • Parc national de la rivière Onkaparinga — L Onkaparinga Catégorie UICN II (parc national) Emplacement Australie Méridionale, Australie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Field River — The Field River is located some 20 kilometers south of the center of Adelaide in South Australia. The catchment area of the Field River includes the Happy Valley Reservoir, part of Main South Road and the Southern Expressway and covers a total… …   Wikipedia

  • Murray-River-Nationalpark — Murray River Nationalpark …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Murray River National Park — IUCN Category II (National Park) …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”