Earnscleugh River facts for kids

The Earnscleugh or Fraser River is a cool river found in the Otago Region of New Zealand. It's known by two names, depending on which part of the river you're talking about! This river starts high up in the mountains and makes its way down to a bigger river.

Discover the Earnscleugh or Fraser River

This river is an important part of the Otago landscape. It flows through some beautiful areas, starting from the mountains and ending in a larger river system. Rivers like this are vital for the environment and local communities.

Where is this River?

The Earnscleugh or Fraser River begins its journey in the Old Man Range. This is a mountain range in the Otago region. From there, it flows towards the north-east.

The river then reaches the Fraser Dam. After the dam, it changes direction. It flows south-east until it joins the Clutha River. The Clutha River is one of New Zealand's largest rivers. The meeting point is about 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) west of a town called Alexandra.

Why Two Names?

This river has two different names for different parts of its flow. The upper part of the river is called the Earnscleugh. This name comes from a large farm nearby called Earnscleugh Station.

The lower part of the river is known as the Fraser River. This name was given to honor one of the past owners of Earnscleugh Station. His name was William Fraser.

Meet William Fraser

William Fraser was an important person in New Zealand's history. He was born in 1840 and became a politician. A politician is someone who helps make decisions and laws for a country or region.

William Fraser was also known for introducing rabbits to the area. This happened during his time as an owner of Earnscleugh Station.