Celeborn Creek, Nimrodel Creek, Postal River, Fenian Creek, Splinter Creek
• right
Nenya Creek, Vilya Creek, Narya Creek
The river and most of its tributaries originate in the Fenian Ranges in the Kahurangi National Park, where the river flows through a section of the Honeycomb Hill Cave. Further downstream it continues through the Ōpārara Arch and the Moria Gate Arch, both of which are popular walking destinations. These sections of the Ōpārara River, while still in dense native forest, can be reached by a forestry road. For the majority of its length it continues to meander south through the Ōpārara Basin before turning west to flow into the Tasman Sea near the small settlement of Ōpārara north of the township of Karamea.
The river's colour varies from tea-like shades of golden brown to red from the natural organic tannins released into the water by several of the plant species in the area. Leaves and other plant matter on the forest floor releases these tannins as they decompose – this eventually leeches into and stains the water, with the shade and intensity varying depending on rainfall and season.
The river and contributing streams in the area are a habitat for the endangered South Island whio; the area used to sustain a large population of whio and is now a location for a recovery programme run by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.[1] The rare and protected Ōpārara giant land snail (Powelliphanta annectens) has only been found in areas around 700 m from the Ōpārara River.[2]
Brown trout can be fished year-round in the river's estuary.[3]
Waters of the Oparara River stained different hues from golden-brown to red by naturally occurring tannins
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ōpārara River.
^"Saving whio on the Styx and Oparara Rivers" (PDF). NZ Department of Conservation. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
^(PDF). NZ Department of Conservation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
^. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
April 11, 2024
Ōpārara, river, river, west, coast, region, zealand, south, island, best, known, limestone, arches, carved, oparara, basin, near, moria, gate, mirror, tarnroute, mouth, show, zealand, south, island, show, south, islandlocationcountrynew, zealandphysical, chara. The Ōparara River is a river in the West Coast region of New Zealand s South Island It is best known for the limestone arches it carved in the Oparara Basin Ōparara RiverŌparara River near Moria Gate Mirror TarnRoute of the Ōparara RiverMouth of the Ōparara RiverShow map of New ZealandŌparara River South Island Show map of South IslandLocationCountryNew ZealandPhysical characteristicsSource coordinates41 04 42 S 172 13 47 E 41 0783 S 172 2298 E 41 0783 172 2298Mouth locationKaramea Bight coordinates41 12 51 S 172 06 32 E 41 21415 S 172 10882 E 41 21415 172 10882 elevation0 metres 0 ft Length25 kilometres 16 mi Basin featuresProgressionŌparara River Karamea Bight Tasman SeaTributaries leftCeleborn Creek Nimrodel Creek Postal River Fenian Creek Splinter Creek rightNenya Creek Vilya Creek Narya CreekThe river and most of its tributaries originate in the Fenian Ranges in the Kahurangi National Park where the river flows through a section of the Honeycomb Hill Cave Further downstream it continues through the Ōparara Arch and the Moria Gate Arch both of which are popular walking destinations These sections of the Ōparara River while still in dense native forest can be reached by a forestry road For the majority of its length it continues to meander south through the Ōparara Basin before turning west to flow into the Tasman Sea near the small settlement of Ōparara north of the township of Karamea The river s colour varies from tea like shades of golden brown to red from the natural organic tannins released into the water by several of the plant species in the area Leaves and other plant matter on the forest floor releases these tannins as they decompose this eventually leeches into and stains the water with the shade and intensity varying depending on rainfall and season The river and contributing streams in the area are a habitat for the endangered South Island whio the area used to sustain a large population of whio and is now a location for a recovery programme run by the New Zealand Department of Conservation 1 The rare and protected Ōparara giant land snail Powelliphanta annectens has only been found in areas around 700 m from the Ōparara River 2 Brown trout can be fished year round in the river s estuary 3 Waters of the Oparara River stained different hues from golden brown to red by naturally occurring tanninsReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ōparara River Saving whio on the Styx and Oparara Rivers PDF NZ Department of Conservation Retrieved 17 September 2013 Carnivorous land snails Powelliphanta PDF NZ Department of Conservation Archived from the original PDF on 21 October 2012 Retrieved 17 September 2013 Oparara River fishing Archived from the original on 30 September 2018 Retrieved 17 September 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ōparara River amp oldid 1215290824, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
