Buffalo River (Victoria)

The Buffalo River, a perennial river[4] of the North-East Murray catchment of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the Alpine region of Victoria, Australia. It flows from the eastern slopes of the Buffalo Range in the Australian Alps, joining with the Ovens River west of Myrtleford.[3]

Buffalo
East Buffalo,[1] West Buffalo[2]
Buffalo River (Victoria) is located in Victoria
Buffalo River (Victoria)
Location of the Buffalo River mouth in Victoria
Location
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
RegionVictorian Alps (IBRA), Victorian Alps
Local government areaAlpine Shire
Physical characteristics
SourceBuffalo Range, Victorian Alps
Source confluenceEast and West branches of the Buffalo River
 • locationMount Buffalo National Park
 • coordinates36°58′56″S 146°46′13″E / 36.98222°S 146.77028°E / -36.98222; 146.77028
 • elevation434 m (1,424 ft)
Mouthconfluence with the Ovens River
 • location
west of Myrtleford
 • coordinates
36°33′7″S 146°41′21″E / 36.55194°S 146.68917°E / -36.55194; 146.68917
 • elevation
206 m (676 ft)
Length65 km (40 mi)
Basin features
River systemNorth-East Murray catchment,
Murray-Darling basin
Tributaries 
 • leftCatherine River (Victoria), Brandy Creek, Four Mile Creek (Victoria), Dandongadale River, Cropper Creek, Long Corner Creek
 • rightCamp Creek (Victoria), Yarrarabula Creek, Sandy Creek (Buffalo River, Victoria)
National parkMount Buffalo National Park
[3]

Location and features

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Formed by the east and west branches of the river, the headwaters of the Buffalo River rise in the Barry Mountains below Mount Selwyn and The Razor at an elevation exceeding 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) above sea level. The east and west branches of the river reach their confluence within the Mount Buffalo National Park, where the watercourse becomes the Buffalo River. The river flows generally north, much of its course through the remote national park, joined by nine tributaries including the Catherine River and the Dandongadale River, before reaching its confluence with the Ovens River west of the town of Myrtleford and adjacent to the Great Alpine Road. The river descends 228 metres (748 ft) over its 65-kilometre (40 mi) course.[3]

The river is impounded by the Buffalo Dam that creates the 24,000-megalitre (5.3×10^9 imp gal; 6.3×10^9 US gal) reservoir, called Lake Buffalo, that was completed in 1965 and supplies potable water to Myrtleford and irrigation of the Goulburn Valley.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Buffalo River East Branch: 11810". Vicnames. Archived from the original on 11 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Buffalo River West Branch: 11812". Vicnames. Archived from the original on 11 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Map of Buffalo River, VIC". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Buffalo River: 11810". Vicnames. Archived from the original on 11 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Register of Large Dams in Australia". Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Archived from the original (Excel (requires download)) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2014.