Leatham River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leatham River |
|
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Raglan Range |
| River mouth | Branch River |
| Length | 40 kilometres (25 mi) |
The Leatham River is a cool river located in the Marlborough Region of New Zealand. It flows through the South Island, which is one of New Zealand's two main islands. This river is a very important branch, or tributary, of the Branch River. The Branch River then flows into the bigger Wairau River. You can think of them like branches of a tree, all connecting!
For most of its journey, the Leatham River flows north. It runs in a valley that is parallel to the Branch River. Then, it turns towards the northwest to meet up with the Branch River. This meeting point is about 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) from where the Branch River flows into the Wairau River. The Leatham River's mouth is located about 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of a town called Richmond, New Zealand.
Discovering the Leatham River
The Leatham River is about 40 kilometres (25 miles) long. It starts high up in the Raglan Range mountains. From there, it makes its way down to join the Branch River. The river's path takes it through beautiful natural areas in the Marlborough Region.
How the River Got Its Name
The Leatham River was named after a man called George Leatham. He was an agriculture laborer who lived in the 1800s. George worked hard in the area, cutting down trees and doing other timber work. He passed away in Wellington in 1894 when he was 59 years old. He is buried in the Karori Cemetery. Naming rivers and places after people who lived or worked there was a common practice in New Zealand's history.
