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Forgotten River
Upper Forgotten River and edge of the Olivine Ice Plateau, New Zealand.jpg
Country New Zealand
Physical characteristics
Main source Five Finger Range
River mouth Olivine River

The Forgotten River is a cool river found in the beautiful Fiordland area of New Zealand. It's like a smaller stream that flows into a bigger one called the Olivine River. This river starts high up near the Olivine Ice Plateau and then winds its way down.

Discovering the Forgotten River

The Forgotten River is located in the northern part of Fiordland, which is a stunning region in the South Island of New Zealand. It begins at a place called the Forgotten River Col. This spot is on the western edge of the Olivine Ice Plateau, which is a large area of ice and snow found in the Five Finger Range mountains.

How the River Flows

From its starting point, the Forgotten River flows mostly towards the southwest. It eventually joins the Olivine River. The way it joins is interesting: it's a "hanging valley." This means the Forgotten River's valley is higher than the main Olivine River valley, creating a kind of step or drop where they meet. This happens south of a place called Four Brothers Pass.

Early Explorers

The Forgotten River was first explored a long time ago, in 1864. Three brave explorers named Alphonse Barrington, James Farrell, and Antoine Simonin were the first known people to journey along this river. They helped map out this remote part of New Zealand.

A Special Wilderness Area

Today, the Forgotten River is part of the Olivine Wilderness Area. A wilderness area is a special place where nature is protected and kept as wild as possible. This means there are very few roads or buildings. To keep it wild, there are rules about how people can visit. For example, aircraft access (like helicopters) is very limited in this area. This helps protect the unique plants and animals that live there.

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