Bellinger River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bellinger River |
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| Other name(s) | North Arm Bellingen River, North Arm Bellinger River |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| IBRA | NSW North Coast |
| District | Mid North Coast |
| Local government area | Bellingen |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Great Dividing Range below Point Lookout, near Ebor 1,150 m (3,770 ft) |
| River mouth | Tasman Sea, South Pacific Ocean east of Urunga 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 109 km (68 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,100 km2 (420 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
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| National Park | New England NP, Bellinger River NP |
The Bellinger River is a beautiful river in the Mid North Coast area of New South Wales, Australia. It's a type of river mouth called a barrier estuary. This means it has a sandbar or barrier that separates it from the ocean. The river is also "trained," which means its flow has been guided by structures like breakwaters.
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Where the Bellinger River Flows
The Bellinger River starts high up in the Great Dividing Range. This is a big mountain range in Australia. The river begins below a place called Point Lookout, near Ebor. From there, it winds its way generally towards the east.
As it flows, the Bellinger River is joined by four smaller rivers and streams. These smaller rivers are called tributaries. One important tributary is the Never Never River. Finally, the Bellinger River reaches its end at the Tasman Sea. This sea is part of the South Pacific Ocean, east of Urunga.
The river drops a lot in height from its start to its end. It goes down about 1,150 meters (3,770 feet) over its 69-kilometer (43-mile) journey.
Nature and Parks Along the River
Parts of the Bellinger River are protected inside special areas. These include the Bellinger River National Park and the New England National Park. These parks help keep the river and its surroundings safe.
Other parts of the river valley are used for farming animals like cows. Some areas are also used for getting wood from trees.
A famous road called Waterfall Way runs next to the middle part of the Bellinger River. Closer to where the river meets the sea, the Pacific Highway crosses it. This happens near a town called Raleigh.
Unique Animals of the Bellinger River
The Bellinger River is home to a very special and rare animal. It's a type of Australian turtle called the Emydura macquarii. This turtle is also known as the Bellinger River freshwater turtle. You can only find this specific turtle in the upper parts of the Bellinger River. It lives above a town called Thora. This makes the river a very important place for this unique creature.
River History
The first European person to explore the Bellinger River area was Clement Hodgkinson. He visited the region in March of 1841.
