Kawarau River
Kawarau River with the water power plant Roaring Meg
Bungy jumping at the Kawarau Bridge, the first place in the world where commercial bungy jumping was offered. The AJ Hackett Bungy Centre is to the right.
Template: Infobox River / Obsolete
The Kawarau River is a river in the north-west of Otago in New Zealand. He is the outflow of Lake Wakatipu and then flows some 60 km to the east. He passed through the gorge Kawarau Gorge to then lead a short swing north to Cromwell in the Lake Dunstan. The Shotover River is a left, the Nevis River, a right tributary of the Kawarau River. The river is characterized by numerous rapids and strong currents. Therefore, the flow already demanded several lives.
The river has a mean flow of 216 m / s at the station Chard Road.
The hydropower plant Roaring Meg flows into the Kawarau who has already flooded several times the lower power plant station. A few hundred meters below the power plant is a natural bridge, the river narrows there only 1.2 m. Previously used the gold rush this place as a transition from Dunedin on the path to the Arrow- goldfields
In the 19th century, was also recovered from the river of gold. Some huts of the miners are still preserved today. Today, in the field and wine production.
1924 a company was founded that would dry up the river by blocking the flow of Lake Wakatipu to dig for gold in the river bed. 1927, completed ten massive gates. Although the water level dropped, the river bed was not drained as hoped. The gates are now part of the State Highway 6, the Goldfields Mining Centre in the canyon is dedicated to gold mining.
On the river jet boating, rafting, river surfing and bungee jumping are offered. The Kawarau Bridge 43 meters above the river, now a cultural monument, was the place were offered the first commercial bungee jumps world. The river is also the first in New Zealand, where commercial rafting took place.
The four main commercial rapids Smiths Falls, Twin Bridges, Do Little Do Nothing and the 400 -meter-long Chinese Dog Leg. Among them are the dangerous sections Nevis Bluff, Citroen and Roaring Meg. These are because of the risk usually not accessible.
The river also served as the backdrop for the film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship (film).
The river's name is pronounced by the locals " K'worra ". The place Kawerau in the Bay of Plenty, the river has no connection.
Water Conservation Order
A Water Conservation Order protects the river because of its wild and picturesque character, the nature, the scientific significance and recreational value. The river should not be dammed and therefore the water quality must be maintained at a certain standard. The order includes the river from the gates on Lake Wakatipu to Scrubby stream.