Matiri River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matiri River |
|
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Buller River |
| Length | 30 km (19 mi) |
The Matiri River is a cool river found in the northwest part of New Zealand's South Island. It's about 30 kilometres (that's about 18.6 miles) long.
This river starts high up in the mountains, west of Mount Owen, inside the beautiful Kahurangi National Park. It flows south until it joins the Buller River, which is a bigger river, near the town of Murchison. On its way, the Matiri River even flows through a lake called Lake Matiri. After the lake, you'll see farms with animals and some small forests along its banks.
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Fun on the Matiri River
The Matiri River is a great spot for exciting water sports, especially whitewater activities like kayaking or rafting!
Whitewater Adventures
If you love adventure, the river has some tricky spots. There's a tight "grade III" rapid in a narrow gorge, which means it's pretty exciting but still manageable for experienced paddlers. When the river is really full from rain, there are two other rocky sections that become "grade IV" rapids. These are even more challenging and are only for expert paddlers! People often choose to paddle on the Matiri River when the nearby Buller River is too high and dangerous to use.
Hiking Trails
If you prefer to stay on land, there's a fun tramping track that follows the western side of the river. It's a great way to explore the area and enjoy nature.
Power from the River
Sometimes, rivers can be used to make electricity!
The Matiri Project
There's a plan called the Matiri Project, proposed by a company called New Zealand Energy Limited. This project aims to build a hydroelectricity scheme on the river. Hydroelectricity uses the power of flowing water to spin turbines and create clean energy.
