Waitakere / Nile River
Waitakere / Nile River | |
---|---|
Native name | Waitakere (Māori) |
Location | |
Country | New Zealand |
Region | West Coast |
District | Buller |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Near The Pinnacle |
• location | Paparoa Range |
• coordinates | 42°03′45″S 171°35′02″E / 42.06237°S 171.584°E[1] |
• elevation | 1,120 metres (3,670 ft)[1] |
Mouth | Little Beach |
• location | Tasman Sea |
• coordinates | 41°53′51″S 171°26′38″E / 41.8976°S 171.444°E[1] |
• elevation | 0 metres (0 ft)[1] |
Length | 29 kilometres (18 mi) |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
• left | Makirikiri Stream, Darkies Creek |
• right | Sirdar Creek, Atbara Creek, Ananui Stream, Awakari River |
Bridges | State Highway 6, foot and cycle suspension bridge.[3] |
The Waitakere / Nile River is a river on the
History
Originally known to local
Following the discovery of gold in the area in 1866 and the subsequent founding of Charleston, increased activity around the river prompted the construction of early bridges and other infrastructure. The first of these was a rough log bridge funded by settlers in Charleston and opened with a toll of one shilling in 1867.[6] This was replaced in 1870 due to damage from driftwood and again in 1875, when the replacement bridge was washed out.[6] This third bridge lasted for 65 years, before eventually being replaced by the present day road bridge. In 2021, the foundations of the third bridge were used to construct a new suspension bridge for foot and cycle traffic, which now forms part of the Kawatiri Coastal Trail.[3]
The area, particularly the river's canyon, was used as the backdrop for filming of the 2001 movie The Lost World.[4]
Geography
The Waitakere / Nile River is one of several roughly perpendicular rivers to flow from the western side of the Paparoa Range to the Tasman Sea, carving deep channels in the region's Whaingaroan limestone karst landscape in the process.[7] The river starts on the eastern side of the range's main ridgeline on the slopes of The Pinnacle, flowing northeast between Mounts Faraday and Priestley through a narrow valley.[1] Roughly a quarter of the way along its length, the river leaves the Paparoa Range, continuing to head northeast as it is joined by numerous unnamed tributaries. At roughly the 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) mark, the river is joined by the Atbara and Sirdar Creeks, both named for Lord Kitchener and in reference to the main river's European name.[8][9]
Soon after this, the land around the river narrows and develops into a short canyon, estimated to have been formed during the last million years.
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Waitakere or Nile River". NZTopoMap. Land Information New Zealand Toitū te Whenua. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ a b c "Place name detail: Waitakere or Nile River". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Nile River Bridge Build Project | Abseil Access New Zealand". abseilaccess.co.nz. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Nile River Rainforest Train | Activity in West Coast, New Zealand". www.newzealand.com. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ "Waitakere (Nile) River". nzfishing.com. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Waitakere – Kawatiri Coastal Trail". kawatiricoastaltrail.co.nz. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- .
- ^ "Place name detail: Atbara Creek". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ "Place name detail: Sirdar Creek". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-12-812493-2.
- ^ "Nile River Glow Worm Caves & Punakaiki - New Zealand Trails". newzealandtrails.com. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ "Nile River Rainforest Train". UnderWorld Adventures – West Coast, NZ. Retrieved 24 July 2022.