Buller River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buller |
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Buller River near Berlins
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The Buller River system
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| Native name | Kawatiri |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Tasman, West Coast |
| Cities | Saint Arnaud, Murchison, Westport |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Southern Alps (Saint Arnaud Range) Lake Rotoiti, New Zealand 41°48′10″S 172°49′20″E / 41.80278°S 172.82222°E |
| River mouth | Tasman Sea Karamea Bight, New Zealand 0 m (0 ft) 41°43′45″S 171°35′20″E / 41.72917°S 171.58889°E |
| Length | 177 km (110 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Buller River is a long and important river in the South Island of New Zealand. It flows for about 170 kilometres (110 mi) from Lake Rotoiti. The river then travels through the famous Buller Gorge. Finally, it empties into the Tasman Sea near the town of Westport.
Lake Rotoiti gets its water from the Travers River. This means the Buller River's true beginning is high up. It starts on the northern slopes of Mount Travers. This mountain is part of the Saint Arnaud Range. The Paparoa Range is a mountain range that runs alongside the Buller River. It separates the Buller from another river called the Grey River. Many plants and animals live in the area around the Buller River. Some of these also live on the slopes of the Paparoa Range.
Contents
Why Is It Called Buller?
The Buller River is named after a person called Charles Buller. He was a Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (UK). He was also a director of the New Zealand Company. This company was based in the UK in the early 1800s. It had a special permission from the king or queen. This permission helped them with their efforts to set up colonies in New Zealand.
The original name for the river in the Māori language is Kawatiri. This name is not used very often today.
Fun Activities on the River
The Buller River is a popular spot for exciting water sports. The part of the river upstream from Murchison is great for whitewater kayaking. The Mangles River, which flows into the Buller, is also popular for this sport.
Many people also enjoy fishing in these rivers. State Highway 6 follows the river for a long distance. This makes it easy for people to visit and enjoy the area.
River Flow and Protection
The Buller River has a large amount of water flowing through it. On average, about 429 cubic metres per second (15,100 cu ft/s) of water flows every second. It also holds the record for the highest flood flow of any New Zealand river. During a flood, over 14,000 cubic metres per second (490,000 cu ft/s) of water can rush through it.
The Buller River has several other rivers that flow into it. These are called tributaries. Some of the main ones include:
- the Gowan River
- the Matakitaki River
- the Maruia River
- the Inangahua River
Other smaller rivers that join the Buller are the Hope, Owen, Mangles, Matiri, Blackwater, Ohikaiti River, and Ohikanui River.
In July 2001, a special rule was put in place. It is called the Buller Water Conservation Order. This rule helps protect the Buller River and its tributaries. It makes sure that these waters stay in their natural state. This is because they have amazing features and values that need to be kept safe.
Images for kids
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The Buller River
See also
In Spanish: Río Buller para niños
