Young River (New Zealand) Explained

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 RiverMakarora RiverLake WānakaClutha River / Mata-AuPacific 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.

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 2.5km (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

2007 Landslide

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]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gillespie Pass Circuit.
  2. Web site: The Young River landslide. Chris Massey, Mauri McSaveney, Neville Palmer, Vern Manville & Graham Hancox. GeoNet. GNS Science. 11 February 2021.
  3. News: Landslip lake holds, lures lookers. Stuff. 27 September 2007. 11 February 2021.