Young River
Location
CountryNew Zealand
RegionOtago
DistrictQueenstown-Lakes District
Physical characteristics
SourceMount Doris
  locationSouthern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
  coordinates44°7′19″S 169°2′42″E / 44.12194°S 169.04500°E / -44.12194; 169.04500
MouthMakarora River
  location
Makarora
  coordinates
44°12′S 169°14′E / 44.200°S 169.233°E / -44.200; 169.233
  elevation
305 metres (1,000 ft)
Length21 kilometres (13 mi)
Basin features
ProgressionYoung River North Branch → Young RiverMakarora RiverClutha River / Mata-Au
River systemClutha River / Mata-Au
Tributaries 
  rightYoung River South Branch

Young River is in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. It lies within the Mount Aspiring National Park and feeds into the Makarora River 3 kilometres (2 mi) upriver from Makarora.

Course

The ultimate source of the Young River is at the head of Young River North Branch on the eastern slopes of Mount Doris on the main divide of the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. The river flow eastwards from it source. There is a landslide dam and 2.5 kilometres (2 mi) long lake 9 kilometres (6 mi) downstream, that formed in 2007. At the lake the river bends to the right and flows southwards for 6 kilometres (4 mi). The Gillespie Pass Circuit tramping track crosses the river using the Young Fork Bridge.[1]

At Young Fork approximately 14 kilometres (9 mi) downstream from the source of the north branch the Young River South Branch merges from the right. The river continues in flowing eastwards for 7 kilometres (4 mi) until it ultimately merges with the Makarora River 3.5 kilometres (2 mi) north of the village of Makarora

2007 Landslide

At 4:40 a.m. on August 29 2007, a debris avalanche occurred blocking the Young River North Branch. Approximately 11 million cubic metres (390×10^6 cu ft) of material fell in to the river valley from above forming a 70-metre (230 ft) high landslide dam.[2] A new lake began forming behind the dam. The lake eventually overtopped the dam on 5 October 2007. When fill, the lake is 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) long and 500 metres (1,600 ft) wide and has a volume of 23 million cubic metres (812×10^6 cu ft).[3]

See also

References

  1. "Gillespie Pass Circuit".
  2. Chris Massey, Mauri McSaveney, Neville Palmer, Vern Manville & Graham Hancox. "The Young River landslide" (PDF). GeoNet. GNS Science. Retrieved 11 February 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "Landslip lake holds, lures lookers". Stuff. 27 September 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
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