North Para River

{{Short description|River in South Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox river | name = North Para | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology =  | image = North Para River, Rowland Flat.JPG | image_size = | image_caption = North Para River near Rowland Flat | 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]]  | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = [[Australia]] | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = [[South Australia]] | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = [[Barossa Valley]] | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = Towns | subdivision_name5 = [[Gawler, South Australia|Gawler]]  | length = {{convert|79|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max =  | source1 = [[Barossa Ranges]] | source1_location = Flaxman Valley 34°36'49.35"S 139° 3'30.97"E | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = {{convert|399|m|abbr=on}} | mouth = [[confluence]] with the [[South Para River]] to form the [[Gawler River (South Australia)|Gawler River]] | mouth_location = at {{SAcity|Gawler}} | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|34|36|S|138|45|E|display=title,inline|region:AU-SA_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|48|m|abbr=on}} | progression = | river_system = [[Gawler River (South Australia)|Gawler River]] | basin_size = | tributaries_left = Angaston Creek, [[Jacobs Creek (Australia)|Jacobs Creek]], Lyndoch Creek | tributaries_right = Greenock Creek, Walkers Creek | custom_label = [[Nature reserve]] | custom_data = | extra = <ref name=bonzle>{{cite web |url=http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=206327&cmd=sp |title=Map of North Para River, SA |work=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia |date= |access-date=25 March 2017 }}</ref> }}

The '''North Para River''' is a river located in the [[Barossa Valley]] of the Australian state of [[South Australia]].

The river's name is based directly on the [[Kaurna language|Kaurna]] word ''pari'' which means river.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/manning/pn/p/p1.htm#para |title=Place Names of South Australia: Para |work=Manning Index of South Australian History |publisher=State Library of South Australia |first=George |last=Manning |date=1990 |accessdate=31 May 2017}}</ref> The "north" descriptor distinguishes it from the [[South Para River]] with which it merges.

==Course and features== The North Para River rises in the [[Barossa Ranges]] near [[Eden Valley, South Australia|Eden Valley]] and follows a meandering path through the [[Barossa Valley]], firstly north to the east of [[Angaston, South Australia|Angaston]], then arcs around to the [[Ordinal directions|southwest]] to pass through the towns of [[Nuriootpa, South Australia|Nuriootpa]] and [[Tanunda, South Australia|Tanunda]], before merging with the [[South Para River]] in [[Gawler, South Australia|Gawler]] forming the [[Gawler River (South Australia)|Gawler River]]. The river descends {{convert|351|m}} over its {{convert|79|km|adj=on}} [[watercourse|course]].<ref name=bonzle/>

The North Para River catchment is one of the key [[drainage basin|watersheds]] in the northern [[Mount Lofty Ranges]]. It plays a very important role in the economy of South Australia, providing much of the water used by [[viticulture]] in the [[Barossa Valley]]. Its waters are also used for [[Livestock|livestock production]], [[Cereal|cereal cropping]] and recreation.

==See also== {{stack|}} * [[Hundred of Nuriootpa]] * [[Hundred of Barossa]] * {{Section link|List of rivers of Australia|South Australia}}

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Rivers of South Australia]] [[Category:Barossa Valley]]