| Young River | |
| Pushpin Map: | New Zealand South Island#New Zealand |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 270px |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Mouth of the Young River |
| Source1: | Young River North Branch |
| Source1 Location: | Mount Doris |
| Source1 Coordinates: | -44.1191°N 169.0432°W |
| Source2: | Young River South Branch |
| Source2 Location: | Mount Awful |
| Source2 Coordinates: | -44.1404°N 169.0674°W |
| Mouth Location: | Makarora River |
| Mouth Elevation: | 305m (1,001feet) |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -44.2°N 169.233°W |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | New Zealand |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Otago |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Queenstown-Lakes |
| Length: | 21km (13miles) |
| Progression: | Young River → Makarora River → Lake Wānaka → Clutha River / Mata-Au → Pacific Ocean |
| Tributaries Left: | Waterfall Creek, Stag Creek |
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 3km (02miles) upriver from Makarora.
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 2.5km (01.6miles) long lake 9km (06miles) downstream, that formed in 2007. At the lake the river bends to the right and flows southwards for 6km (04miles). The Gillespie Pass Circuit tramping track crosses the river using the Young Fork Bridge.[1]
At Young Fork approximately 14km (09miles) downstream from the source of the north branch the Young River South Branch merges from the right. The river continues in flowing eastwards for 7km (04miles) until it ultimately merges with the Makarora River 3.5km (02.2miles) north of the village of Makarora
At 4:40 a.m. on August 29, 2007, a debris avalanche occurred blocking the Young River North Branch. Approximately 11e6m3 of material fell in to the river valley from above forming a 700NaN0 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 2500m (8,200feet) long and 500m (1,600feet) wide and has a volume of 23e6m3.[3]