Steavenson Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Steavenson Falls |
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Steavenson Falls
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| Location | Australia |
| Type | Horsetail |
| Total height | 122 metres (400 ft) |
| Number of drops | 5 |
| Longest drop | 21 metres (69 ft) |
Steavenson Falls is a beautiful waterfall found in Victoria, Australia. It's about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) southeast of a town called Marysville. The falls are on the Steavenson River.
This amazing waterfall is one of the tallest in Victoria. It has five different sections, called cascades, where the water tumbles down. The water drops a total of 122 meters (400 feet). The very last part of the waterfall has a clear drop of more than 21 meters (69 feet)!
Contents
History of Steavenson Falls
People living nearby first made a path to the falls in 1866. The falls and the river were named after John Steavenson. He was an important person who helped build roads and bridges.
John Steavenson first visited the Marysville area in 1862. He was looking for a new way to build a road to the gold fields at Woods Point.
Protecting the Falls
In 1959, a special area of 190 hectares (470 acres) was set aside. It was called the Steavenson Falls Scenic Reserve. This was done to protect the waterfall and the nature around it.
The reserve is looked after by the government and a group of volunteers. They work together to keep the area safe and beautiful.
Exploring the Steavenson Falls Reserve
The reserve has many paths for walking. Some paths are easy for everyone. Other paths are more challenging for experienced hikers.
Power and Water
A special machine called a turbine is at the bottom of the falls. It uses water from the river to make electricity. This electricity powers the bright lights that shine on the falls at night. It also lights the paths for visitors.
Local tourism groups helped get money for these lights. The lights were officially turned on in 1972. The town of Marysville also gets its drinking water from a small dam near the falls.
Forest and Wildlife
The Steavenson Falls Reserve is covered in thick forest. It sits in a valley with steep sides. You can see very tall Mountain Ash trees here. These trees grew back after a big bushfire in 1939.
Other types of eucalyptus trees also grow in the forest. These include Mountain Grey Gum, Messmate, and Narrow-leafed Peppermint. You might also spot Myrtle Beech trees with their small, shiny leaves. Blackwood trees, which are a type of wattle, have pale yellow flowers. Silver Wattle trees are also common.
Along the river, you can see tall Soft and Rough Tree-ferns. Their height shows how old they are!
Keep an eye out for Lyrebirds, especially in the morning or after it rains. They look for insects and worms on the ground. You can often see where they've been by the scratch marks they leave in the leaves.
Steavenson Falls is a very popular place to visit. About 180,000 people come to see it every year!
Bushfire Damage and Recovery
A very big bushfire, called the Black Saturday bushfires, happened on February 7, 2009. This fire caused a lot of damage in the area. Most of the buildings and paths were destroyed. The forest was also badly burned.
Only the hydro-electric generator, which lit up the falls, could be saved. After the fire, a lot of work was done to fix the roads and visitor areas. Dead trees were also removed because they were dangerous.
Even though the fire was intense, the native forest has grown back well. Nature is amazing at healing itself! You can still see some signs of the fire, but the area is looking beautiful again.
