RAKAIA RIVER

The 'Rakaia River', in the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island, is the largest braided river in New Zealand . ^[1] The river has a mean flow of 203 cubic metres per second and a mean annual seven-day low flow of 87 cubic metres per second. ^[2]
It rises in the Southern Alps, travelling 150 kilometres in a generally easterly or southeasterly direction before entering the Pacific Ocean 50 kilometres south of Christchurch.
For much of its journey, the river is a braided river, running through a wide shingle bed. Close to Mount Hutt, however, it is briefly confined to a narrow canyon known as the Rakaia Gorge.
The two bridges crossing the Rakaia River, at the township of Rakaia, are New Zealand's longest road and rail bridges respectively.^[3] The bridges are some 1750 metres in length. The small town of Rakaia, 20 kilometres from the Rakaia River mouth, is halfway between Christchurch and Ashburton.
The Rakaia River is a celebrated salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) fishery.^[4]

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References

External links

References

1. Morland, K. 1994: Water Resources of the Canterbury Region. Canterbury Regional Council Unpublished Technical Report U94/59.
2. Morgan, M., Bidwell, V., Bright, J., McIndoe, I, and Robb, C. (2002): ''"Canterbury Strategic Water Study"'' Lincoln Environmental Report No 4557/1, Lincoln University, New Zealand. Table 6.1. http://www.ecan.govt.nz/Our+Environment/Water/PlansandReports/StrategicWaterStudy.htm
3. ''"The Rakaia River"'', Selwyn District Council, http://www.selwyn.govt.nz/background/rakaia.htm, retrieved 31 August 2007
4. West I. F. and Goode,R. H. (1987) ''"Aerial counts of spawning chinook salmon {Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) on the Rakaia River system, Canterbury, New Zealand, 1973-76."'' New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1987, Vol. 21: 563-572.

External links

★ Selwyn District Council page for the Rakaia River

★ Selwyn District Council Photo of the lower Rakia River

★ Salmon fishing on the Rakaia River