Murchison River (Tasmania)
The Murchison River is a significant year-round watercourse located in Tasmania's West Coast area and forms part of the Pieman River drainage basin.
Course and features
Rising beneath Pyramid Mountain in the northeastern section of the West Coast Range, within the boundaries of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, the Murchison River flows in a northwesterly direction. Along its route, it is joined by six tributaries, notably the Wallace, Achilles, Bluff, and Anthony rivers. The river traverses through the reservoir known as Lake Murchison. Its confluence with the Mackintosh River occurs near , where together they form the Pieman River inside Lake Rosebery, a body of water created by the impoundment of the Pieman at Bastyan Dam.
Prominent features within the catchment include its easternmost boundary at Mount Pelion West and the meeting point of the Murchison and Mackintosh catchments at Barn Bluff. The catchment area extends to border the southern Eldon Range and encompasses sections of the West Coast Range, featuring landmarks such as the Tyndall Range and Lake Rolleston along its southwestern perimeter.
The river plays a vital role in the Pieman River Power Development project. The Murchison Dam, erected in the 1980s by Hydro Tasmania, forms Lake Murchison to the east of Mount Murchison. From this dam, water is directed via the Sophia Tunnel into Lake Mackintosh, facilitating hydroelectric power production.
See also
External links
- The Pieman Catchment – Hydro Tasmania