{{Short description|River in South Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} {{Infobox river | name = Alberga | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = Alberga Creek | name_etymology = <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | image = Boy with a toy shield and boomerang.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = An [[Arrernte people|Arrernte]] boy practicing with a toy shield and [[boomerang]] at Alberga Creek, 1920.<br/>{{small|(Source: [[National Museum of Australia]])}} | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Australia South Australia | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= Location of the [[mouth (river)|river mouth]] in [[South Australia]] <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = [[Australia]] | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = [[South Australia]] | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = [[Far North (South Australia)|Far North]] | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = Settlement | subdivision_name5 = {{SAcity|Macumba}} <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | length = {{convert|690|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max = <!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES --> | source1 = | source1_location = north of [[Indulkana]] | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = {{convert|465|m|abbr=on}} | mouth = [[confluence]] with the [[Macumba River]] | mouth_location = near {{SAcity|Alberga}} | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|-27.1042|135.5297|format=dms|display=title,inline|region:AU-SA_type:river}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|110|m|abbr=on}} | progression = | river_system = [[Lake Eyre Basin]] | basin_size = | tributaries_left = Marryat Creek | tributaries_right = Eateringinna Creek, Agnes Creek, Tarcoonyinna Creek, Indulkana Creek, Yoolperlunna Creek, Warrungadinna Creek, Kathleen Creek | custom_label = [[Sink (geography)|Waterholes]] | custom_data = Oorarin Waterhole; Armina Waterhole; Kilkirkina Waterhole | extra = <ref name=bonzle>{{cite web |url=http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=212397&cmd=sp |title=Map of Alberga River, SA |work=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia |date= |access-date=25 March 2017 }}</ref> }} The '''Alberga River''', also known as the '''Alberga Creek''', is an [[ephemeral river]] that is part of the [[Lake Eyre basin]] located in the [[Far North (South Australia)|Far North]] region of the Australian state of [[South Australia]].
==Course and features==
The river rises near {{SAcity|Indulkana}}, north of the [[Oodnadatta Track]] and about {{convert|40|km}} northwest of the town of [[Oodnadatta]]<ref name=PLB01/> and northeast of {{SAcity|Marla}}. The Alberga generally flows east by south, joined by eight minor tributaries and three [[Sink (geography)|waterholes]] before reaching its [[confluence]] with the [[Macumba River]] near the town of {{SAcity|Alberga}}. The river descends {{convert|355|m}} over its {{convert|690|km|adj=on}} [[watercourse|course]].<ref name=bonzle/>
The river is crossed by ''[[The Ghan]]'' near its source.
== History ==
===European history=== The Alberga River was discovered on 23 March 1860 by [[John McDouall Stuart]], who considered it to be a branch of the [[Neales River]]. The river was named by [[William Gosse (explorer)|William Christie Gosse]] in 1873. It is also known as Alberga Creek.<ref name=PLB01>{{cite web|title=Search result for "Alberga River" (Record id no. SA0000555) |url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/# |publisher=Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure |accessdate=6 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012010923/http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/ |archivedate=12 October 2016 }}</ref><ref name=PLB02>{{cite web|title=Search result for "Alberga Creek" (Record id no. SA0004842) |url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/# |publisher=Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure |accessdate=6 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012010923/http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/ |archivedate=12 October 2016 }}</ref>
It was a junction between the central and southern sections on the [[Australian Overland Telegraph Line]] between the coasts of Australia.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Overland Telegraph|url=http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/overland-telegraph|website=Australian Government|accessdate=27 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629144111/http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/overland-telegraph|archive-date=29 June 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The southern section, between [[Port Augusta]] and Alberga Creek, was contracted to Edward Meade Bagot in 1870. The overland telegraph was completed on 22 May 1872.<ref>{{cite web|title=1871 The Overland Telegraph|url=http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibition/objectsthroughtime/1871-the-overland-telegraph-line-telegraph-collection/|website=Migration Heritage Centre New South Wales|accessdate=27 June 2015}}</ref>
==See also== {{stack|{{portal|South Australia}}}} *{{Section link|List of rivers of Australia|South Australia}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Rivers of South Australia|state=autocollapse}}
[[Category:Rivers of South Australia]] [[Category:Far North (South Australia)]] [[Category:Lake Eyre basin]]