Burke River (New Zealand) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burke River |
|
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Southern Alps |
| River mouth | Haast River |
| Length | 16 km (10 mi) |
The Burke River is a cool river in New Zealand's South Island. It's located inside the beautiful Mount Aspiring National Park. This river flows for about 16 kilometers (that's almost 10 miles!).
It starts near a place called Mueller Pass. From there, it travels east until it joins the Haast River. The Haast River is about 10 kilometers (or 6 miles) south of the Haast Pass.
How the Burke River Got Its Name
The Burke River was named by a famous explorer named Julius von Haast. He was looking for a way to cross from the Otago region to the West Coast of New Zealand.
He named the river after Robert O'Hara Burke. Robert Burke was a leader of a very famous journey called the Burke and Wills expedition. This was a big trip across Australia.
Close by, there's another river called the Wills River. Can you guess who that's named after? It's named for William John Wills, who was also part of the Burke and Wills expedition.
