What is the Murray-Darling Basin known for?
What is the Murray-Darling Basin known for?
The Murray–Darling Basin is of significant environmental, cultural and economic value to Australia. It’s home to 16 internationally significant wetlands, 35 endangered species and 120 different species of waterbirds.
How old is the Murray-Darling Basin?
about 250 million years old
Today the area of the Murray-Darling Basin consists largely of flat plains country in which Quaternary and Tertiary sediments rest on a hard impervious basement of rocks – predominantly of the Paleozoic Age (about 250 million years old).
Why is it called the Murray-Darling Basin?
The Murray–Darling Basin is a one million square kilometre area in the south east of Australia. It is called a Basin because water is collected by the natural landscape before it eventually flows into the two major Basin rivers, the Murray and the Darling.
How big is the Murray — Darling Basin?
1,059,000 square kilometres
The Murray-Darling Basin is located in the south-east of Australia (map 3.17). The Basin covers 1,059,000 square kilometres or 14% of Australia’s land area.
What are some interesting facts about the basin?
The Basin is Australia’s most important agricultural area and produces over one-third of the national food supply. Over half of Australian grown apples are produced in the Basin, including this Granny Smith variety. Batlow, in south-east New South Wales is the most well-known apple-producing region in the Basin.
How many animals live in the Murray-Darling Basin?
The Basin is home to: 367 bird species (35 of which are endangered), including 98 species of waterbirds. 85 mammal species (20 of which are extinct, 16 endangered) over 50 native fish species.
How many people live in the Basin of the Murray River?
2 million people
Over 2 million people live in the Basin. The States in the Murray-Darling Basin include, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and the ACT. The Basin’s most valuable resource is water.
How was the Murray River named?
The river is named after Colonial Secretary Sir George Murray.
What is an interesting fact about the Murray River?
The River Murray is Australia’s longest river. It’s 2508 kilometres long, spanning New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Almost 2000 km is navigable, making it the third longest navigable river on the planet, with only the Amazon and Nile rivers ahead of it.
What are some interesting facts about the Basin?
How deep is the Murray River?
The river is 40-50 m wide, with most pools 2 m deep although there are some reaches with pools 4-5 m deep.
Who owns the Murray river?
The MDBA manages and operates the River Murray on behalf of the New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian governments because the river flows through all three states. Water in the River Murray is shared based on the rules set out in the Murray–Darling Basin Agreement.