Nogoa River
Encyclopedia
The Nogoa River rises on the Carnarvon Range
in the Carnarvon National Park
in Central Queensland
and flows in a north easterly direction. The river ends where it meets the Comet River
north of Comet
. From this point the river is called the Mackenzie River
.
Queensland
's second largest lake, Lake Maraboon was formed when the Fairbairn Dam
was built on the river in 1972. The dam and a network of channel
s along the Nogoa River supplies water for the Emerald Irrigation Area.
when waters broke its banks. The Nogoa peaked at 15.4 m (50.5 ft) in Emerald on the night of January 22 2008, causing more than 2500 people to be evacuated. The unprecedented floods washed through the Ensham Mine, temporarily halting operations in two out of six coal pits, reducing output to less than 50% and rendering a huge dragline defunct after it had been submerged.
the river flooded again.
Carnarvon Range
The Carnarvon Range is a mountain range in Central Queensland, Australia. It is a plateau section of the Great Dividing Range. The Carnarvon Range is 160 km in length. It was first explored by Ludwig Leichhardt but named by Thomas Mitchell after the 4th Earl of Carnarvon.North eastern parts of...
in the Carnarvon National Park
Carnarvon National Park
Carnarvon National Park is located in the Southern Brigalow Belt bioregion in Central Queensland , 593 km northwest of Brisbane...
in Central Queensland
Central Queensland
Central Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional centre is Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast and the area extends west to the Central Highlands at Emerald, north to the Mackay Regional...
and flows in a north easterly direction. The river ends where it meets the Comet River
Comet River
The Comet River is a river in Central Queensland that starts to the south of Rolleston. It then flows north through Comet towards a confluence with the Nogoa River where they both become known as the Mackenzie River...
north of Comet
Comet, Queensland
Comet is a town in central Queensland, Australia. The town is located on the Capricorn Highway, north west of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Comet and the surrounding area had a population of 233....
. From this point the river is called the Mackenzie River
Mackenzie River (Queensland)
The Mackenzie River is a seasonal tributary of the Fitzroy River in Queensland, Australia. It is created by the intersection of the Comet and Nogoa rivers flowing from the Expedition Range in Central Queensland....
.
Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
's second largest lake, Lake Maraboon was formed when the Fairbairn Dam
Fairbairn Dam
Fairbairn Dam is located 25 kilometres southwest of Emerald, in Central Queensland, almost on top of the Tropic of Capricorn line. Fairbairn Dam was constructed in 1972 across the Nogoa River "Gap" creating Lake Maraboon and is Queensland's second largest lake. Maraboon is the Aboriginal for "where...
was built on the river in 1972. The dam and a network of channel
Channel (geography)
In physical geography, a channel is the physical confine of a river, slough or ocean strait consisting of a bed and banks.A channel is also the natural or human-made deeper course through a reef, sand bar, bay, or any shallow body of water...
s along the Nogoa River supplies water for the Emerald Irrigation Area.
2008 floods
In January 2008, the Nogoa River reached record flood levels. During the flood, water levels in the Fairbairn Dam rapidly exceeded 100%. Within a week inundations had caused severe disruptions to graziers, crops growers and to residents of EmeraldEmerald, Queensland
Emerald is a town located in the Central Highlands district of Central Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Emerald had a population of 10,999. The town is the business centre for the Central Highlands Regional Council....
when waters broke its banks. The Nogoa peaked at 15.4 m (50.5 ft) in Emerald on the night of January 22 2008, causing more than 2500 people to be evacuated. The unprecedented floods washed through the Ensham Mine, temporarily halting operations in two out of six coal pits, reducing output to less than 50% and rendering a huge dragline defunct after it had been submerged.
2010-2011 floods
In December 2010 - January 20112010–2011 Queensland floods
A series of floods hit Australia, beginning in December 2010, primarily in the state of Queensland including its capital city, Brisbane. The floods forced the evacuation of thousands of people from towns and cities. At least seventy towns and over 200,000 people were affected. Damage initially was...
the river flooded again.