Taieri River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taieri River |
|
|---|---|
The Taieri River at Cogans, Otago
|
|
 |
|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lammerlaw Range |
| River mouth | Pacific Ocean 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 288 km (179 mi) |
The Taieri River is a long and important river in New Zealand. It is the fourth-longest river in the country. You can find it in the Otago region, which is on the South Island.
The river starts high up in the Lammerlaw Range mountains. From there, it flows north, then turns east around the Rock and Pillar mountain range. Finally, it heads southeast and reaches the Pacific Ocean. This is about 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of the city of Dunedin.
Contents
Journey of the Taieri River
The Taieri River has a very interesting path. In its upper parts, the river winds and turns a lot. It flows across a flat area near Paerau. Along this part, the river passes two small power stations. These stations use the river's water to make electricity. This happens before the town of Patearoa in an area called the Maniototo.
Valleys and Gorges
After the Maniototo, the Taieri River makes a big curve. It enters a wide valley called the Strath-Taieri. This valley was formed by glaciers long ago. It is surrounded by rough, hilly areas.
Right after this valley, the river has cut a deep, steep-sided channel. This channel is known as the Taieri Gorge. The Taieri Gorge is famous for the Taieri Gorge Railway. This railway line follows the river through the gorge. It offers amazing views as it goes towards Central Otago.
Reaching the Ocean
Further downstream, the river flows into a wide, flat area. This area is called the Taieri Plains. It has some of the best and most fertile farmland in Otago. The river then goes through another part of the lower Taieri Gorge. Finally, it reaches the Pacific Ocean at a place called Taieri Mouth.
Just a few hundred meters from where the river meets the sea, there is an island. It is called Taieri Island.
River Facts and Towns
The Taieri River is 288 kilometres (179 mi) long in total. About the last 20 kilometres (12 mi) of the river can be used by boats.
Several towns are located along the Taieri River. These include Middlemarch, Outram, Allanton, Mosgiel, Henley, and Taieri Mouth.
The main river that flows into the Taieri is the Waipori River. The Waipori River joins the Taieri near Henley, on the Taieri Plains. Sometimes, online maps might incorrectly show the lower part of the Taieri as the Waipori River. However, the official New Zealand government maps confirm the correct name is Taieri River.
What Does "Taieri" Mean?
The name "Taieri" has a few possible meanings. It might come from the Māori words "Tai-ari." This can mean "to smash or pound up" or "to pulp."
Other ideas suggest it comes from the Māori word taiari. This word means "spring tide" or "shining water."
Another interesting idea is that the name refers to the makotaieri. This was a type of edible shark. It was once considered a special food along the Otago coast.
See also
In Spanish: Río Taieri para niños
