Mathias River
Encyclopedia
The Mathias River is a river of the Canterbury Region of New Zealand
's South Island
. It flows from its origins in three rivers (the North, South, and West Mathias Rivers) in the Southern Alps
. Of these, the North Mathias River is the longest, flowing predominantly southwards from its source northeast of Mount Williams. After eighteen kilometres its waters combine with those of the West Mathias River, which flows predominantly southwest for 13 kilometres from its sources 10 kilometres west of Mount Williams. The South Mathias River, a tributary of the West Mathias River, is a six-kilometre long easterly-flowing river which meets the West Mathias five kilometres from its confluence with the North Mathias.
The combined waters flow a further 17 kilometres southeast across a braided, shingle strath
, which meets with the valley of the Rakaia River
15 kilometres west of Lake Coleridge
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. It flows from its origins in three rivers (the North, South, and West Mathias Rivers) in the Southern Alps
Southern Alps
The Southern Alps is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the island's western side...
. Of these, the North Mathias River is the longest, flowing predominantly southwards from its source northeast of Mount Williams. After eighteen kilometres its waters combine with those of the West Mathias River, which flows predominantly southwest for 13 kilometres from its sources 10 kilometres west of Mount Williams. The South Mathias River, a tributary of the West Mathias River, is a six-kilometre long easterly-flowing river which meets the West Mathias five kilometres from its confluence with the North Mathias.
The combined waters flow a further 17 kilometres southeast across a braided, shingle strath
Strath
A strath is a large valley, typically a river valley that is wide and shallow .An anglicisation of the Gaelic word srath, it is one of many that have been absorbed into common use in the English language...
, which meets with the valley of the Rakaia River
Rakaia River
The Rakaia River is in the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island. The Rakaia River is one of the largest braided rivers in New Zealand...
15 kilometres west of Lake Coleridge
Lake Coleridge
Lake Coleridge is located in inland Canterbury, in New Zealand's South Island. Located 35 kilometres to the northwest of Methven, it has a surface area of 47 km²....
.