Paroo River

26°07′56″S 145°10′39″E / 26.13222°S 145.17750°E / -26.13222; 145.17750 • elevation336 m (1,102 ft) Mouthconfluence with the Darling River in wetter seasonsnorth of White Cliffs, New South Wales31°33′30″S 143°27′08″E / 31.55833°S 143.45222°E / -31.55833; 143.4522294 m (308 ft)Length1,210 km (750 mi)Basin size60,095 km² (23,203 sq mi)Discharge  • average15 m³/s (530 cu ft/s) Basin featuresRiver systemDarling River catchment,
Murray–Darling basinReservoirsBuckenby Waterhole, Humeburn Waterhole, Corni Paroo Waterhole, Caiwarro Waterhole, Thoulcanna Dam, Talyealye Billabong and Budtha Waterhole^[2]

The Paroo River, a series of waterholes, connected in wet weather as a running stream of the Darling catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the South West region of Queensland and Far West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the home of the Paarkantji people.

Paroo is the local Aboriginal word for the bony bream fish, which are common in the river.^[3]

Course and features

The river rises in the gorge country of western Queensland south of the Mariala National Park, and flows generally south and spreads into the vast floodplains of New South Wales, eventually reaching the Paroo overflow lakes. Most commonly, the Paroo River terminates on the floodplain south of Wanaaring; and only reaches the Darling River in the wettest of years,^[4] otherwise spilling into the Paroo River Wetlands. The river is joined by forty-three minor tributaries; as it descends 242 metres (794 ft) over its 1,210-kilometre (750 mi) course.^[2]

The Paroo River is the last remaining free-flowing river in the northern part of the Murray-Darling basin,^[5] and is impounded by the natural formation of the Buckenby Waterhole, Humeburn Waterhole, Corni Paroo Waterhole, Caiwarro Waterhole, Thoulcanna Dam, Talyealye Billabong and Budtha Waterhole.^[2]

Wetlands

The Paroo River wetlands in north-western New South Wales are important for threatened species such as the freckled duck and the Australian painted snipe. The wetlands lie within the Paroo Floodplain and Currawinya Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance, when conditions are suitable, for large numbers of waterbirds.^[6]

On 20 September 2007, Malcolm Turnbull, the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, announced that the Paroo River Wetlands in north-west New South Wales would be listed under the Ramsar Convention as wetlands of international importance, making them Australia's 65th Ramsar site.^[5]

Gallery

• 
  The dry Paroo River, near Wilcannia
• 
  Road sign by the Paroo River bridge, near Wilcannia

See also

• Rivers of Queensland
• Rivers of New South Wales

References

External links

• Ecological character description for Paroo River Wetlands Ramsar site – NSW Govt