Cardrona River

{{Short description|River in the South Island of New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox river | name = Cardrona River | native_name ={{native name|mi|Ōrau}} | name_other = Ōrau | name_etymology = | nickname =  | image = CardronaValleyNewZealand.jpg | image_size = 270px | image_caption = View of Cardrona Valley of the Cardrona River | image_alt =  | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_alt = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= | pushpin_map_alt =  | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = New Zealand | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = Otago | subdivision_type3 = Settlements | subdivision_name3 = [[Wānaka]], [[Cardrona, New Zealand|Cardrona]] | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 =  | length_km = 40 | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max =  | source1 = [[Crown Range]] | source1_location = | source1_coordinates=  | source1_elevation = | mouth = [[Clutha River|Clutha / Mata-au River]] | mouth_location = | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|44|41|S|169|12|E|region:NZ_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}} | mouth_elevation = | progression = → Clutha River → [[Pacific Ocean]] | river_system = | basin_size = | basin_landmarks = | basin_population = | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | waterbodies = | waterfalls = | bridges = | ports = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }} The '''Cardrona River''' is in [[Otago]] in the [[South Island]] of New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cardrona River |url=https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/18004 |access-date=18 June 2025 |website=[[New Zealand Geographic Board]]}}</ref> It is one of the first tributaries of the [[Clutha River|Clutha River / Mata-Au]], which it meets only {{convert|5|km|mi|0}} from the latter's origin at the outflow of [[Lake Wānaka]]. ==Geography== The Cardrona flows north for {{convert|40|km|mi}} down the steep narrow Cardrona Valley. Its headwaters are near New Zealand's highest main road, the [[Crown Range Road]].<ref> {{cite web |last1=Zanthia |title=The Crown Range |url=https://www.newzealand.com/au/feature/the-crown-range/ |website=100% Pure New Zealand |publisher=New Zealand Tourism |accessdate=28 July 2020 }}</ref> The valley separates the [[Crown Range]] to the west from the [[Criffel Range]] to the east. The river runs past the settlement of [[Cardrona, New Zealand|Cardona]] and the [[Cardrona Alpine Resort|Cardrona skifield]], then south of [[Wānaka]] township. ==Etymology== The [[Māori language|Māori]] name of the river is {{lang|mi|Ōrau}}, meaning 'place of leaves'. Robert Wilkin, an early settler, named the river after the Cardrona River in Scotland.<ref>{{cite LINZ|18002|18002}}</ref> ==History== In 1863 the river was prospected for gold. Significant amounts were found in the following years but a flood in 1878 covered up most of the claims and prospecting in the area died down.<ref name="goldendays">{{cite book | last=Miller | first=Frederick Walter Gascoyne | title=Golden Days of Lake County | publisher=Whitcombe and Tombs|chapter=The Cardrona Valley | publication-place=Christchurch | date=1973 | isbn=978-0-7233-0194-3|edition=5th }}</ref>

In 2017, a toxic [[cyanobacteria]] ''[[phormidium]]'' was found in the river after a period of warm temperatures. The public were warned that people and dogs should avoid contact with the water while the algae was present.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 October 2017 |title=Phormidium found in Cardrona River |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/phormidium-found-in-cardrona-river/SUSTA7OZWXFNOYMB45CM47DRTQ/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=[[Otago Daily Times]] |language=en-NZ |via=[[The New Zealand Herald]]}}</ref> The Cardrona River is one of several rivers in the Otago region that are known as vulnerable to outbreaks of cyanobacteria.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Toxic algae sightings |url=https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/water-care/toxic-algae-warnings/ |access-date=18 June 2025 |website=[[Otago Regional Council]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

An [[environmental DNA]] analysis in 2023 revealed a previously unknown population of [[Galaxiidae|galaxid]] fish are present in the Cardrona River. The species identified is the Clutha flathead galaxid, which is critically threatened and close to extinction.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2023 |title=DNA detects threatened flatheads |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2023-media-releases/dna-detects-threatened-flatheads/ |access-date=18 June 2025 |website=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>

In 2024, a group of 50 volunteers removed around {{Convert|1000|kg|abbr=on}} of rubbish from a section of the river. Further cleanups were planned for other sections of the river.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pattemore |first=Lauren |date=26 June 2024 |title=Volunteers remove 1000kg of rubbish from river near Wānaka |url=https://crux.org.nz/community-bulletin/volunteers-remove-1000kg-of-rubbish-from-river-near-wanaka/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Crux |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Rivers of Otago]] [[Category:Rivers of New Zealand]] [[Category:Tributaries of the Clutha River]]