Ovens River Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Ovens
Ovens River at Bright
Course of the Ovens River in Victoria
Native name	Burwang, Djerrang
Country	Australia
State	Victoria
Region	Australian Alps (IBRA), Victorian Alps, Hume
Local government areas	Alpine Shire, Wangaratta City, Moira Shire
Towns and cities	Harrietville, Bright, Porepunkah, Myrtleford, Wangaratta
Physical characteristics
Main source	Great Dividing Range
River mouth	confluence with the Murray River near Bundalong 125 m (410 ft) 36°2′15″S 146°10′38″E / 36.03750°S 146.17722°E / -36.03750; 146.17722
Length	191 km (119 mi)
Basin features
River system	North-East Murray catchment, Murray-Darling basin
Basin size	7,778 km² (3,003 sq mi)
Tributaries	Left: Morses Creek, Buckland River (Victoria), Buffalo River (Victoria), King River (Victoria)
National parks	Alpine NP, Mount Buffalo NP

The Ovens River is a beautiful river in the north-east part of Victoria, Australia. It's a key part of the huge Murray-Darling Basin, which is one of the world's largest river systems. This river flows through the Victorian Alps and the Hume areas, known for their stunning natural beauty.

Where the Ovens River Flows
- River's Journey and Length
Discovering the Ovens Valley
- Fun Activities in the Valley
- Cycling and Local Produce
The Name of the River
- Aboriginal Names
Towns Along the Ovens River
Images for kids
See also

Where the Ovens River Flows

The Ovens River starts where two smaller streams, the East and West Branches, meet. This meeting point is in the Victorian Alps, near the town of Harrietville. The river gets its water from the high slopes of the Alpine National Park and the Mount Buffalo National Park.

River's Journey and Length

The river generally flows towards the north-west. It is joined by many smaller rivers and creeks along its way. Some of these include Morses Creek near Bright, the Buckland River at Porepunkah, and the King River at Wangaratta. The Ovens River travels about 191-kilometre (119 mi) (119 miles). During its journey, it drops about 405 metres (1,329 ft) (1,329 feet) in height. A famous road, the Great Alpine Road, follows the river for much of its upper part.

Discovering the Ovens Valley

The area around the Ovens River is called the Ovens Valley. It is a very popular place for tourists to visit. Many people come here to enjoy the outdoors and see the beautiful scenery.

Fun Activities in the Valley

The Ovens Valley is a gateway to several ski resorts. These include Mount Hotham, Mount Buffalo, and Falls Creek. You can also visit the Alpine National Park and the Mount Buffalo National Park. For those who love air sports, gliding and paragliding are popular here. There is even a fun hedge maze at Wandiligong.

Cycling and Local Produce

A disused railway line has been turned into a cycling path. It is called the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail. This trail is great for bikes and stretches from Wangaratta and Beechworth all the way to Bright. The valley also has several wineries where grapes are grown to make wine. Many farms here also grow hops, which are used to make beer.

The Name of the River

The Ovens River was explored in 1824 by Hamilton Hume and William Hovell. They named the river after Major John Ovens. He was an important person who worked for Thomas Brisbane, who was the Colonial Governor of New South Wales at the time.

Aboriginal Names

In the Aboriginal Waywurru language, the river has two special names. One name is Burwang, but its meaning is not fully known. The other name is Djerrang, which means "leaf".