Tamar Valley, Tasmania facts for kids
The Tamar Valley is a beautiful area in Tasmania, an island state in Australia. It stretches about 70 kilometers (about 43 miles) from the city of Launceston north-west all the way to the coast. The valley is named after the Tamar River, which flows through its heart.
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Discovering the Tamar Valley
The Tamar Valley is a special place known for its stunning scenery and interesting geography. It's like a big dip in the Earth's surface, called a Graben, which means it's a block of land that has sunk down between two parallel cracks in the Earth's crust. This unique shape helps create the perfect environment for many things, including growing grapes!
What is the Tamar River?
The main waterway flowing through the Tamar Valley is often called the Tamar River. However, it's actually an estuary. An estuary is a place where a river meets the sea, and fresh water mixes with salty ocean water. The palawa name for this estuary is kanamaluka. It's quite long, stretching 70 kilometers, making it Australia's longest estuary!
Wildlife in the Valley
The kanamaluka/Tamar estuary is a very important home for many birds, especially those that travel long distances. It's part of something called the East-Asian Flyway. Imagine a superhighway for birds! This flyway is a path that stretches from cold places like the Russian Tundra and Alaska all the way to warmer areas in the Southern Hemisphere, including Tasmania.
Many migratory birds use the kanamaluka/Tamar estuary as a crucial stop during their long journeys. Over 20 different types of migratory birds visit this area. For example, more than 1% of all the Chestnut Teal ducks and Pied Oystercatchers in the world rely on this estuary at an important time in their lives. Protecting this area helps these amazing birds survive their incredible travels.
Growing Grapes
The Tamar Valley is famous for its vineyards. There are more than 20 vineyards spread across the valley, making it the biggest wine-growing area in Tasmania. If you're a tourist, you can follow the Tamar Valley Wineroute to explore these vineyards. The main types of grapes grown here are pinot noir and chardonnay. These grapes are used to make delicious wines that are enjoyed by many people.
