The Paroo River, a series of waterholes, connected in wet weather as a running stream of the Darling catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the South West region of Queensland and Far West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the home of the Paarkantji people.

Paroo is the local Aboriginal word for the bony bream fish, which are common in the river.

Course and features

The river rises in the gorge country of western Queensland south of the Mariala National Park, and flows generally south and spreads into the vast floodplains of New South Wales, eventually reaching the Paroo overflow lakes. Most commonly, the Paroo River terminates on the floodplain south of Wanaaring; and only reaches the Darling River in the wettest of years, otherwise spilling into the Paroo River Wetlands. The river is joined by forty-three minor tributaries; as it descends over its course.

On 20 September 2007, Malcolm Turnbull, the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, announced that the Paroo River Wetlands in north-west New South Wales would be listed under the Ramsar Convention as wetlands of international importance, making them Australia's 65th Ramsar site.

Cultural references

Henry Lawson described the ephemeral nature of the Paroo River in a poem, "The Paroo 'River'" (1894):<blockquote>

But soon he saw a strip of ground<br>That crossed the track we followed—<br>No barer than the surface round<br>But just a little hollowed.</blockquote>

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Paroo River Dry-2002-05.jpg|The dry Paroo River, near Wilcannia

Paroo R.JPG|Road sign by the Paroo River bridge, near Wilcannia

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See also

  • Rivers of Queensland
  • Rivers of New South Wales

References

  • Ecological character description for Paroo River Wetlands Ramsar site – NSW Govt