Darling River
The Darling River (Paakantyi: Baaka or Barka) is the third-longest river in Australia, measuring 1,472 kilometres (915 mi) from its source in northern New South Wales to its confluence with the Murray River at Wentworth. Including its longest contiguous tributaries it is 2,844 km (1,767 mi) long, making it the longest river system in Australia. The Darling River is the outback's most famous waterway.
| Darling River | |
|---|---|
Aerial view of the Darling River near Menindee | |
The Darling is a major tributary of the Murray-Darling system | |
| Native name | Barka (Paakantyi) |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| Cities | Bourke, Wilcannia, Menindee, Wentworth |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | confluence of Barwon and Culgoa Rivers |
| • location | near Brewarrina, NSW |
| • coordinates | 29°57′31″S 146°18′28″E |
| • elevation | 119 m (390 ft) |
| Mouth | confluence with Murray River |
• location | Wentworth, NSW |
• coordinates | 34°6′47″S 141°54′43″E |
• elevation | 35 m (115 ft) |
| Length | 1,472 km (915 mi) |
| Basin size | 609,283 km2 (235,245 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 100 m3/s (3,500 cu ft/s) approx. |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Murray River, Murray-Darling basin |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Barwon River, Little Bogan River |
| • right | Culgoa River, Warrego River, Paroo River |
The Darling is in poor health, suffering from over-allocation of its waters to irrigation, pollution from pesticide runoff, and prolonged drought. During drought periods in 2019 it barely flowed at all. The river has a high salt content and declining water quality. Increased rainfall in its catchment in 2010 improved its flow, but the health of the river will depend on long-term management.
The Division of Darling, Division of Riverina-Darling, Electoral district of Darling and Electoral district of Lachlan and Lower Darling were named after the river.