Howqua River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Howqua |
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The Howqua River, upstream of the Howqua Inlet and the settlement of Howqua, in 2012.
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| Native name | Pyerlite |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Victoria |
| Region | Alpine bioregion (IBRA), Victorian Alps |
| Local government area | Shire of Mansfield |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Victorian Alps, Great Dividing Range below Mount Howitt 1,680 m (5,510 ft) 37°10′43″S 146°37′46″E / 37.17861°S 146.62944°E |
| River mouth | confluence with the Goulburn River Lake Eildon 265 m (869 ft) 37°13′48″S 146°5′54″E / 37.23000°S 146.09833°E |
| Length | 65.6 km (40.8 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Goulburn Broken catchment, Murray-Darling basin |
| Tributaries |
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| National park | Alpine National Park |
The Howqua River is a beautiful river in the Victorian Alps of Victoria, Australia. It's a smaller river but an important part of the Murray-Darling Basin, which is a huge river system. The river starts high up in the mountains, near Mount Howitt. It then flows down and joins the Goulburn River inside Lake Eildon.
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Where the Howqua River Flows
The Howqua River begins its journey high in the Victorian Alps. It starts below Mount Howitt, which is part of the Great Dividing Range. This area is also within the Alpine National Park.
The river flows mostly towards the west. Along its way, five smaller streams join it. These are called tributaries. Finally, the Howqua River meets the Goulburn River. This meeting point is inside Lake Eildon, a large lake created by the Eildon Weir.
From its start to where it joins the Goulburn River, the Howqua River travels about 66 kilometers (41 miles). During this journey, it drops about 1,410 meters (4,626 feet) in height.
What's in a Name? The Howqua River's History
The Howqua River has an interesting history behind its name.
The Original Name: Pyerlite
In the Aboriginal Woiwurrung and Daungwurrung languages, the river is known as Pyerlite. The exact meaning of this name isn't fully clear today.
How the Howqua River Got Its Current Name
There are a few ideas about how the river got its current name, "Howqua":
- Named After a Person: One idea is that it was named after a farmer named John "Howka" Hunter. He lived in the area in the mid-1800s.
- A Mix of Words: Another idea is that the name is a mix of two words. It could come from "Mount Howitt," where the river starts, and "aqua," which is the Latin word for water.
- A Popular Tea: A third possibility is that it was named after "Howqua," a very popular brand of Chinese tea in the early 1800s.
- Another Person: Finally, some believe it was named after Akin Howqua (also known as Ah Kin Wowqua). He was a Chinese surveyor and an early resident of Melbourne.
