Inch Clutha facts for kids

Inch Clutha is a large, flat island located in the South Island of New Zealand. It sits in the delta of the Clutha River, between its two main branches: the Matau (northern) and Koau (southern). This island is found downstream from the town of Balclutha.

The island is about 10 kilometres (6 mi) long and 3 kilometres (2 mi) wide. Its land is very fertile, which means it's great for farming, but it can also flood easily. Inch Clutha was formed in 1878 after a huge flood changed the path of the Clutha River. Before this flood, the river used to reach the ocean about 4 km south at Port Molyneux.

What Does "Inch Clutha" Mean?

The name "Inch Clutha" comes from Scots Gaelic. The word innis means "island." Cluaidh is the Gaelic name for Scotland's River Clyde. So, "Inch Clutha" basically means "Island of the Clutha River."

Exploring Inch Clutha's Geography

Inch Clutha is not very populated; it has only a few farmhouses spread out across the island.

How to Get to Inch Clutha

Only two bridges connect Inch Clutha to the rest of the South Island. Both bridges link up with the Kaitangata Highway (which used to be SH 91). One bridge is at the northern end of the island, near Stirling. The other is about one kilometre from Kaitangata.

Rivers and Lakes Around the Island

Along the southwestern side of the island, next to the Koau branch of the river, you can find several small oxbow lakes. These are curved lakes that form when a river changes its course. Some are near Finegand in the north, and others are about 3 km from the Pacific coast.

The northern side of the island doesn't have any oxbow lakes right now. However, the Matau branch of the river has some large bends, especially near Kaitangata. These bends might eventually turn into oxbow lakes. In one of the biggest bends, the river loops back on itself for 3500 metres, creating a narrow strip of farmland only about 120 metres wide.

The Southern Tip of the Island

At the very southern end of Inch Clutha, a channel connects the two river branches. This channel separates Inch Clutha from a smaller, low-lying island that sits between it and the Pacific coast. The northern tip of Inch Clutha is directly across the Clutha River from Balclutha Aerodrome, which is on the southern edge of Balclutha town.

Early Settlers on Inch Clutha

The first settlers arrived on Inch Clutha in 1848. They formed a small community on the island, making it their home.