South Esk River
Encyclopedia
The South Esk River is the longest river in Tasmania
. It starts in the mountains near Fingal
flowing through Avoca
, Evandale
, Longford
, Hadspen
and finally Launceston
. The river is dammed at Trevallyn Dam
near Launceston and used for the city's Hydro Electricity
scheme. Although most of the water is dammed at Lake Trevallyn, some flows on into the Cataract Gorge
where it becomes a tributary to the Tamar River, and the outflow from the power station also joins the Tamar River downstream of Launceston. The river is constantly subject to flooding and overflows at Lake Trevallyn cause a scenic display of rapids gushing through the Gorge
.
The river's two largest tributaries are the Macquarie River and the Meander River, with lesser tributaries being the Nile River, River Tyne, Stories Creek and the Break O'Day River upstream of the junction with the Macquarie River. The Meander River's main tributaries are the Liffey River and Quamby Brook and the Macquarie River's main tributaries are the Lake River, Isis River, Elizabeth River
, Blackman River, Tooms River and Tin Dish Rivulet.
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. It starts in the mountains near Fingal
Fingal, Tasmania
Fingal is a small Australian town located in Fingal Valley in the north-east of Tasmania, on the Esk Highway.-History:The Fingal area was surveyed in 1824 by Roderic O'Connor and John Helder Wedge, and is believed to have been named after Fingal's Cave in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland rather than...
flowing through Avoca
Avoca, Tasmania
Avoca is a small village located south-east of Launceston in the island of Tasmania. At the 2006 census, Avoca and the surrounding area had a population of 123....
, Evandale
Evandale, Tasmania
Evandale is a small town in northern Tasmania, Australia. It sits on the banks of the South Esk River 18 km south of Launceston. A classified historic town, many of its buildings remain largely in original condition...
, Longford
Longford, Tasmania
Longford is a town in the north-east of Tasmania, Australia. It lies 175 m above sea level at the convergence of the Macquarie River and the South Esk River, 21 km south of Launceston. It is just south of the Illawarra Road, a road connecting the Bass and Midland Highways. It has a...
, Hadspen
Hadspen, Tasmania
Hadspen is a small Australian town, located on the South Esk River in the north of Tasmania, just south west of Launceston.The centrepiece of the town is the historic property Entally House, the family home of Thomas Reibey who was the Premier of Tasmania from 1876 to 1877.-External links:*...
and finally Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
. The river is dammed at Trevallyn Dam
Trevallyn Dam
The Trevallyn Dam is a dam on the South Esk River in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia and is used to provide water for hydroelectricity. The spillway height is 26.8 metres and the dam wall is 177 metres long. The lake has a surface area of 1.48 km² and storage capacity of 12.33 million m³...
near Launceston and used for the city's Hydro Electricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
scheme. Although most of the water is dammed at Lake Trevallyn, some flows on into the Cataract Gorge
Cataract Gorge
The Cataract Gorge is a river gorge in Launceston, northern Tasmania, Australia and is one of the region's premier tourist attractions. It is found at the lower section of the South Esk River...
where it becomes a tributary to the Tamar River, and the outflow from the power station also joins the Tamar River downstream of Launceston. The river is constantly subject to flooding and overflows at Lake Trevallyn cause a scenic display of rapids gushing through the Gorge
Cataract Gorge
The Cataract Gorge is a river gorge in Launceston, northern Tasmania, Australia and is one of the region's premier tourist attractions. It is found at the lower section of the South Esk River...
.
The river's two largest tributaries are the Macquarie River and the Meander River, with lesser tributaries being the Nile River, River Tyne, Stories Creek and the Break O'Day River upstream of the junction with the Macquarie River. The Meander River's main tributaries are the Liffey River and Quamby Brook and the Macquarie River's main tributaries are the Lake River, Isis River, Elizabeth River
Elizabeth River, Tasmania
The Elizabeth River in Tasmania is a small river with a length of 59.6 km. It is located in the northern midlands of Tasmania. It begins above Lake Leake and then flows south through Lake Leake and then flows east through the town of Campbell Town and then flows into the Macquarie River east...
, Blackman River, Tooms River and Tin Dish Rivulet.