Clutha River
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Geography
The Clutha River is the second longest river in New Zealand and flows south-southeast for 340 kilometres through Central and South Otago to the Pacific Ocean, 75 kilometres south west of Dunedin.
The ultimate source of the river is at the end of the Makarora River, close to the saddle of the Haast Pass, which flows into the northern end of Lake Wanaka. The southern end of the lake drains into the nascent Clutha close to Albert Town, where it is met by its first main tributary, the Cardrona River. Shortly thereafter the river widens into Lake Dunstan, an artificial lake created behind the massive hydroelectric dam at Clyde. At this point it is joined by another tributary, the Lindis.
Fifty kilometres south of Lake Wanaka, the Clutha reaches the town of Cromwell, which was substantially altered when the Clyde Dam project was completed in the late 1980s. Here the river is joined by the waters of the Kawarau. Prior to the construction of the Clyde Dam, this junction was renowned for the difference in colour between the two rivers’ waters.
The river then flows southeast through the scenic Cromwell Gorge to Clyde and nearby Alexandra, where it is joined by the waters of the Manuherikia River. South of Alexandra the river widens again to form Lake Roxburgh, another man-made lake, this time behind the Roxburgh Dam, which was constructed in the late 1950s. The town of Roxburgh sits close to the river, 120 kilometres downstream from Lake Wanaka.
From here the river continues southeast past the towns of Ettrick, Millers Flat, and Beaumont, before it is met by the Tuapeka River at Tuapeka Mouth. At this point the river turns southward, before being met by its last major tributary, the Pomahaka River, which joins the Clutha 30 kilometres from the coast. The river passes the town of Balclutha before widening into the Clutha Delta which contains the large flat island of Inch Clutha.
In its lower reaches the Clutha is notoriously fast-flowing, its average discharge estimated at 570 m³/s.
History
The Clutha takes its name from Cluaidh, the Scots Gaelic name for the River Clyde in Scotland which runs through Glasgow. During its early history it was known as the Molyneux, that name given to it by Captain Cook.
The river featured greatly in the Central Otago goldrush. The first major gold deposits in Otago were discovered around the Tuapeka River at Gabriel's_Gully in 1861, and the following year large amounts of the precious metal were discovered close to the site of modern Cromwell.
Several major floods have occurred on the Clutha, most notably the “Hundred year floods” of mid-October 1878 and mid-October 1978.
Water usage
There are several hydroelectric power stations located on the river providing clean environmentally friendly power to the New Zealand power grid.
The Clutha also provides irrigation for stone fruit orchards around Cromwell, Alexandra, and Roxburgh, which provide apples, apricots, nectarines, cherries, and peaches. Several small vineyards are also found in the upper reaches of the river.
The spectacular scenery of Central Otago makes the upper Clutha a popular holiday destination, especially for adventure tourism. Jet boating, waterskiing, bungy jumping and parapenting facilities are all to be found close to the river, and Lake Dunstan is also an important rowing venue. Several major ski courses are found close to the river. Curling is also played close to the Clutha in the harsh Central Otago winters.