Waitakere River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Waitakere River |
|
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Tasman Sea ACoordinates: Unknown argument format |
| Length | 16 km (10 mi) |
The Waitakere River is an important river located in the Auckland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It starts in the Waitākere Ranges and flows first north, then west. Eventually, it reaches the Tasman Sea at a place called Te Henga (Bethells Beach). This beach is just south of Muriwai Beach.
The upper part of the river has a dam built across it. This dam creates the Waitākere Reservoir, which is a large lake. Just below the dam, you can find the amazing Waitakere Falls. These waterfalls are 95 metres (312 ft) high, making them the third highest waterfall on the North Island!
The River's Journey
The Waitakere River begins its flow in the beautiful Waitākere Ranges. These ranges are a chain of hills that are covered in native forest. As the river travels, it collects water from many smaller streams.
Its journey takes it through different landscapes. The river eventually empties into the Tasman Sea. This is a large body of water that is part of the Pacific Ocean. The mouth of the river is a popular spot for visitors.
Māori History and Names
The Waitakere River has a very rich history, especially for the Te Kawerau ā Maki Māori people. For them, the river was a central and sacred place. They had special names for different parts of the river.
The lower section of the river was called Te Awa Kōtuku. This means the "White Heron's Plume River." The kōtuku, or white heron, is a very special bird in Māori culture. The upper part of the river was known as Waikirikiri.
Many Māori villages, called kāinga, were built along the riverbanks. These villages were important places for living and gathering food. Some of these villages included Ōhutukawa, which was near Lake Waimanu, and others like Motu, Ōkaihau, Raumati, Pihāriki, Parawai, and Waitī.
The Waitakere Dam
The Waitakere Dam is a significant structure on the river. It was first built a long time ago, in 1910. This dam helps to create the Waitakere Reservoir. The reservoir holds a lot of water.
In the 1920s, the areas around the river were used for logging. Workers cut down many kauri trees, which are large native trees. Later, in 1927, the Waitakere Dam was made even taller. This made the Waitakere Reservoir much bigger. When the reservoir grew, it covered the original site of the Waitī village.
