Thorndon Park Reserve facts for kids
Thorndon Park Reserve is a fun public park located in Paradise, a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It used to be the site of the Thorndon Park reservoir, which was finished way back in 1860. The park opened its gates for everyone to enjoy in 1986. It was updated in the 2000s, and more improvements were still happening in 2015.
Today, Thorndon Park Reserve has lots of cool features. You can find picnic spots, barbecues, and play areas for kids. There are also big grassy fields, easy-to-use walking paths for wheelchairs, an amphitheatre for shows, and beautiful waterways. A series of ponds and wetlands are home to many different native plants and animals. In 2014, people even thought about starting a community orchard here! Just remember, dogs are not allowed in the park.
Thorndon Park's History as a Reservoir
Quick facts for kids Thorndon Park Reservoir |
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Thorndon Park Reservoir, 1899
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| Coordinates | 34°52′28″S 138°41′18″E / 34.87444°S 138.68833°E |
| Status | Drained and converted to a park |
| Construction began | 1857 |
| Opening date | 1860 |
| Demolition date | 1986 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | earth |
| Height | 42 feet (13 m) |
| Width (crest) | 5 feet (1.5 m) |
| Width (base) | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 142,000,000 imperial gallons (650 Ml) |
| Surface area | 26.5 acres (10.7 ha) |
| Maximum water depth | 40 feet (12 m) |
The Thorndon Park reservoir was the very first reservoir built to provide water for the city of Adelaide. Its construction started in 1857 and was finished in 1860. When it was completely full, the reservoir could hold a huge amount of water: about 142 million imperial gallons (which is about 645 million litres!).
Tiny Jellyfish Discovery
In 1950, a very small type of freshwater jellyfish called Craspedacusta sowerbii was found living in the reservoir. These tiny jellyfish are originally from Africa and are quite rare to find in other parts of the world.
