Manawapou River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manawapou River |
|
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | South Taranaki Bight |
| Length | 21 km (13 mi) |
The Manawapou River is a river located in the Taranaki Region of New Zealand's North Island. It starts in the rough hill country. This area is found northeast of the town of Hāwera. The river then flows towards the southwest. It reaches the South Taranaki Bight. This is a large bay between Hāwera and Patea. The Manawapou River is about 21 kilometers (13 miles) long.
The Manawapou River
The Manawapou River is an important natural feature. It is part of the beautiful landscape of Taranaki. Rivers like this help shape the land over many years. They also provide homes for various plants and animals.
The River's Story in Rocks
The ground where the Manawapou River flows holds a long history. This history is shown in the different types of rocks. The river starts in an area with sandy Tangahoe Mudstone. This mudstone formed a very long time ago. It was created in a shallow sea. This happened during a period called the mid-Pliocene epoch.
As the river flows, its valley cuts deeper into the land. It carves through older rocks. These include the early-Pliocene Whenuakura Group rocks. These rocks are made of different materials. They include bioclastic limestone, which has pieces of old shells. There are also pebbly and micaceous sandstones. These sandstones contain tiny shiny flakes of mica. You can also find massive siltstone, which is a very fine-grained rock.
The land around the river also has other layers. These are mid-Pleistocene beach deposits. They are much younger than the rocks the river cuts through. These deposits include conglomerate, which is rock made of pebbles. There is also sand, peat (decayed plant matter), and clay. All these layers tell us about how the land changed over millions of years.
