We might be a bit bias but we’re chuffed (and not surprised) that the mighty Murray River is featured in Australian Traveller’s Top 10 Aussie Wonders.
The Murray River came in at number 2 in the 10 must-see iconic wonders of Australia category, behind Uluru and ahead of Sydney Harbour and the Great Barrier Reef!
According to Australian Traveller, an icon is a place or thing that’s instantly recognisable and widely adored. Be that for its beauty, symbolism, ingenuity or the joy it brings.
“The ancient Murray River criss-crosses the border of NSW and Victoria like a thread down the haphazard seam of a blanket, from the NSW Snowy Mountains to the Murray mouth near Goolwa in South Australia, sustaining the land and Traditional Owners along its shores for more than 40,000 years.”
Source: Taylah Darnell for Australian Traveller
Fun facts about the Murray River
It’s one of the longest navigable rivers in the world
The River Murray is Australia’s longest river. It’s 2508 km 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.
It’s part of the Murray–Darling Basin
The Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) spans more than 1 million square km, making up a whopping 14% of the total area of Australia.
It provides water for a lot of people
The River Murray provides water to about 1.5 million households, as well as farms and other businesses along its length.
The Murray River is regulated
The river level and flow rate can be controlled or regulated by water being released from a storage.
It is home to four major dams, 16 storage weirs and 15 navigable locks.
You can navigate the Murray River for almost 2,000 km
From Goolwa right up to Yarrawonga. It spans across three states, but you know that already – New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.