Buffalo River (Victoria) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buffalo |
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| Other name(s) | East Buffalo, West Buffalo |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Victoria |
| Region | Victorian Alps (IBRA), Victorian Alps |
| Local government area | Alpine Shire |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Buffalo Range, Victorian Alps |
| River mouth | confluence with the Ovens River west of Myrtleford 206 m (676 ft) 36°33′7″S 146°41′21″E / 36.55194°S 146.68917°E |
| Length | 65 km (40 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | North-East Murray catchment, Murray-Darling basin |
| Tributaries |
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| National park | Mount Buffalo National Park |
The Buffalo River is a river in Victoria, Australia. It flows through the beautiful Victorian Alps. This river is part of the larger Murray-Darling Basin, which is a huge river system in Australia.
The Buffalo River starts in the Australian Alps. It then flows into the Ovens River, near a town called Myrtleford.
Contents
Where the River Flows
The Buffalo River actually starts from two smaller streams. These are called the East and West branches of the river. They begin high up in the Barry Mountains. This area is over 1,300 meters (about 4,265 feet) above sea level.
River's Journey
The two branches meet inside the Mount Buffalo National Park. This is where the Buffalo River officially begins. The river then flows mostly north. A lot of its path goes through the wild and scenic national park.
Nine smaller streams join the Buffalo River along its way. Some of these are the Catherine River and the Dandongadale River. Finally, the Buffalo River meets the Ovens River. This meeting point is west of Myrtleford, right next to the Great Alpine Road. The river drops about 228 meters (748 feet) over its 65-kilometer (40-mile) journey.
Lake Buffalo and Its Uses
The Buffalo River has a dam built on it called the Buffalo Dam. This dam creates a large lake known as Lake Buffalo. The lake was finished in 1965.
Why Lake Buffalo is Important
Lake Buffalo holds a lot of water, about 24,000 megalitres. That's a huge amount! This water is very important for a few reasons:
- It provides clean drinking water for the town of Myrtleford.
- It supplies water for irrigation in the Goulburn Valley. This means farmers can water their crops, which helps grow food.
