Thomson River (Latrobe River)
| Thomson River | ||
 Bridge over the Thomson River (ca.1910) |
||
| Data | ||
| location | Victoria , Australia | |
| River system | Latrobe River | |
| Drain over | Latrobe River → Gippsland Lakes → Bass Strait | |
| source | Newlands in the Baw-Baw Plateau 37 ° 47 ′ 24 ″ S , 146 ° 14 ′ 24 ″ E |
|
| Source height | 972 m | |
| muzzle |
Latrobe River Coordinates: 38 ° 8 ′ 45 " S , 147 ° 5 ′ 10" E 38 ° 8 ′ 45 " S , 147 ° 5 ′ 10" E |
|
| Mouth height | 1.6 m | |
| Height difference | 970.45 m | |
| Bottom slope | 5.7 ‰ | |
| length | 170 km | |
| Left tributaries | Matlock Creek, Jordan River , Aberfeldy River , Stringers Creek, Lammers Creek, Stoney Creek, Macalister River | |
| Reservoirs flowed through | Lake Thomson | |
| Medium-sized cities | Heyfield , sale | |
| Small towns | Walhalla , Coopers Creek | |
| Communities | Newlands | |
The Thomson River is a river in Gippsland in the Australian state of Victoria .
Its source is below Newlands in the northwest corner of the Baw-Baw plateau at an altitude of 972 m . Its catchment area borders those of the Yarra River and the Tanjil River . The confluence of the Thomson River in the Latrobe River is south of Sale at a height of 1.55 m . Thus it overcomes around 970 m difference in altitude over a length of around 170 km.
In 1840 the river was named by Angus McMillan after Sir Edward Thomson , Colonial Secretary in Sydney .
In the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, gold was mined intensively in the Thomson Valley . The prospector Ned Stringer discovered large amounts of alluvial gold at the mouth of today's Stringers Creek in the Thomson River. A little further up on this brook, the gold prospecting settlement of Walhalla was founded.
Soon after the source, the Thomson River is dammed at the Thomson Dam . This reservoir provides 60% of Melbourne's drinking water needs . About half of the natural amount of water is diverted from the river, which leads to major environmental problems downstream. The Gippsland lakes are particularly affected by the water shortage. After all, it was classified as an internationally important wetland according to the Ramsar Convention .
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Map of Thomson River, VIC . Bonzle.com
- ^ L. Blake: Place Names of Victoria . Rigby (1977)
- ^ Thomson River . Environment Victoria