Snowy River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Snowy |
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| River | |
 The Snowy River below McKillops Bridge
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| Nickname: "The Snowy" | |
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| State | Victoria, New South Wales |
| Region | South-east Australia |
| Tributaries | |
| - left | Mowamba River, Maclaughlin River, Jacobs River, Deddick River, Rodger River |
| - right | Delegate River, Wullwye Creek, Pinch River, Buchan River, Brodribb River |
| City | Jindabyne (NSW), Orbost (Vic), Marlo (Vic) |
| Source | Australian Alps |
| - location | Great Dividing Range |
| - elevation | 2,200 m (7,218 ft) |
| Mouth | |
| - location | Bass Strait, Australia |
| - elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 352 km (218.7 mi) |
| Basin | 15,779 km² (6,092.3 sq mi) 4% |
| Discharge | mouth |
| - average | 517 m³/s (18,260 cu ft/s) |
The Snowy River is a major river in south-eastern Australia. It starts on the slopes of Mount Kosciuszko, Australia's highest mountain. It gets its water from the eastern slopes of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, and then flows through the Snowy River National Park in Victoria and finally into Bass Strait. Up until the middle of the 20th century, the river was known for the large amount of fresh water it carried, its wide reach and large rapids.
The river's course and surroundings have not changed very much, as it is protected by the Snowy River National Park. However its flow of water was almost stopped in the 1950's by the building of the Snowy Mountains Scheme to make hydroelectricity. Four large dams were built, at Guthega, Island Bend, Eucumbene, and Jindabyne, as well as many smaller dams and tunnels. Less than 1% of the river flow, as measured at Jindabyne, New South Wales, continued to flow down the river. Concern over the health of river led to an agreement between the state and federal governments to increase the amount of water released back into the river. From 2002 to 2008 the flow was increased from 1% to 4%. The agreement planned to increase the flow to 15% by 2009 and 21% by 2012.
Images for kids
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Headwaters of the Snowy River, with Mount Kosciuszko beyond
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The Snowy River near Suggan Buggan, in Victoria, 2008.
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Snowy River mouth at Marlo in flood, 2012.
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Exposed riverbed just south of the NSW/VIC border is a result of the reduction of the river's water flow by 99%.
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The Snowy River, at the small NSW town of Dalgety.
See also
In Spanish: Río Snowy para niños
