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South Para Reservoir facts for kids

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South Para Reservoir
South Para reservoir.jpg
South Para Reservoir.
South Para Reservoir is located in South Australia
South Para Reservoir
South Para Reservoir
Location in South Australia
Location South Australia
Coordinates 34°41′49″S 138°51′40″E / 34.697°S 138.861°E / -34.697; 138.861
Type reservoir
Basin countries Australia
Surface area 4 km2 (1.5 sq mi)

The South Para Reservoir is a really important water source in South Australia. It's the second biggest reservoir there, right after the Mount Bold Reservoir. This reservoir is a key part of the South Para River system. It can hold a huge amount of water, about 45,330 megalitres! Because it's so big and in a special area that collects water, it only fills up completely about once every five years.

Building the Reservoir

Building the South Para Reservoir was a big job! It cost around A$6.4 million to make. The construction started in 1949 and finished in 1958, taking almost ten years. It took a while because there was a lot of demand for building materials after World War II.

One of the main reasons for the delay was another huge project: the Mannum–Adelaide pipeline. This pipeline was built to bring water from the Murray River to Adelaide, a city that often didn't have enough water. Today, this very pipeline helps fill the South Para Reservoir with water.

Protecting Nature

The area around the reservoir is a special nature reserve. People have worked hard to plant new trees and shrubs there. The first big planting project happened in the late 1950s, when over 5,000 trees and shrubs were put into the ground.

Later, the Government of South Australia started a program called the "Million Trees" initiative. The South Para Reservoir area was part of this amazing effort to plant even more trees and help nature grow.

Quick Facts

Here are some interesting facts about the South Para Reservoir:

  • Capacity: 45,330 ML (that's 45.33 billion litres!)
  • Length of wall: 284 m (about the length of three football fields)
  • Height of wall: 44.2 m (taller than a 10-story building)
  • Type of wall: rolled fill (this means it's made from layers of earth and rock packed down tightly)

Image Gallery

  • South Para spillway

    The Reservoir's spillway, where extra water flows out.

  • South Parra Reservoir bridge

    A bridge that goes over the spillway.

  • South Para from hill lookout-merged

    A wide view of South Para Reservoir and the natural bushland around it.

  • South Parra Reservoir panorama 3

    You can see the water levels in September 2009 here.

  • South Parra Reservoir panorama 1

    Another view of South Para Reservoir.

  • South Parra Reservoir panorama 2

    A different angle of South Para Reservoir.

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South Para Reservoir Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.