Rakaia River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rakaia River |
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Rakaia River mouth
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The Rakaia River system
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| Native name | Rakaia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Southern Alps |
| Length | 150 kilometres (93 mi) |
The Rakaia River is a big river in the South Island of New Zealand. It flows through the Canterbury Plains. This river is famous for being one of New Zealand's largest braided rivers. A braided river looks like many small streams weaving together.
The Rakaia River has a lot of water flowing through it. On average, about 203 cubic metres per second (7,200 cu ft/s) of water moves every second. In the 1850s, early European settlers tried to call it the Cholmondeley River, but that name didn't stick.
Journey of the Rakaia River
The Rakaia River starts high up in the Southern Alps. It flows for about 150 kilometres (93 mi) towards the east or southeast. Finally, it reaches the Pacific Ocean, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Christchurch. When it meets the ocean, it forms a special type of lagoon called a hapua.
For most of its path, the river spreads out. It runs through a wide bed made of shingle, which is why it looks braided. But near Mount Hutt, the river narrows down. It flows through a tight canyon known as the Rakaia Gorge.
Bridges Crossing the River
The Rakaia River has two main bridges. The busiest one is near the small town of Rakaia. This bridge is about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from where the river meets the ocean. Here, State Highway 1 and the South Island Main Trunk Railway cross the river.
These two bridges are very long. They are New Zealand's longest road and rail bridges, each about 1.75 kilometres (1.09 mi) long. There's also a second bridge, which is much shorter and not used as often. It crosses the river at the Rakaia Gorge.
Water Use and Wildlife
The Central Plains Water Trust plans to use some water from the Rakaia River. They want to take up to 40 m3/s (1,400 cu ft/s) of water for a project called the Central Plains Water enhancement scheme. This project helps with irrigation for farms.
The Rakaia River is a great place for fishing, especially for Chinook salmon. It's also very important for birds. BirdLife International has called it an Important Bird Area. This is because many endangered black-billed gulls build their nests here.
The river is also home to a large number of wrybill birds. About 73 percent of all wrybills live along this river. Other important birds that use the riverbed include the black-fronted tern and the banded dotterel.
See also
In Spanish: Río Rakaia para niños
