Breaking News Today – The Brisbane River
If you’re in the market for a new home, a trip down the Brisbane River might be right up your alley. It’s the longest river in Queensland, flows through the city of Brisbane, and empties into the nearby Moreton Bay on the Coral Sea. The Brisbane River was named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, the Governor of New South Wales, in 1823. There are so many things to see and do along the river that you’ll find something to interest everyone.
The city’s riverfront is narrow, but it’s a scenic feature of the city, and its various creeks wind their way through it to provide a variety of vistas. It has been a site of a variety of fireworks displays and festivals, and has spawned many rowing clubs. It’s also a great place to get exercise as the river is lined with mangroves.
The river reached a record high on Monday, with 3.85 metres (12ft 3in) at one point. The river will likely peak at 3.7 metres (9.5ft) on Tuesday. The water level is still below the floorboards of 10,827 homes in Brisbane and surrounding areas. There have been eight deaths and three people remain missing due to the floods. A man in his fifties drowned and his dog was found dead in floodwaters before dawn.
The Brisbane River is nearing an ecological tipping point. The water’s pH has been rising since the late 1970s, owing to the upgrading of sewage plants. The pH level can be dangerous to aquatic life, as it means less oxygen. The water may also become less oxygenated, causing algae to grow. This can have disastrous consequences for the ecosystem. But there is a solution. As the river continues to rise, more people will start to realize the benefits of a healthy Brisbane River.
The Brisbane River was once a major conveyance between Brisbane and Ipswich. Before 1875, it was known as the South Passage, and buoys were laid along its banks to guide vessels into and out of Moreton Bay. Pilots were also hired to guide ships up and down the river until it reached the city. Flying boats were even used as ferries and took off in the 1930s.
Until the 1970s, the Brisbane River was a brown-colored estuary that had been heavily altered by colonial settlement. The river channel was destabilised by legacy clearing and runoff from hard surfaces. The sediment and runoff from these activities added to the river’s turbidity. Consequently, the river now appears brown after a storm. In the 1860s, the river was dredged to facilitate the passage of large ships.
After the first European explorers arrived in the region, the riparian forest that was lining the Brisbane River was destroyed by large floods. The river’s wetlands and floodplains had been flooded extensively during the last two thousand years, and a large amount of open forest had been destroyed. Today, however, remnant mangroves are protected nature reserves, although the noxious water hyacinth weed still grows in the area near the Brisbane river.
The Brisbane River is located in the region of south-eastern Queensland, and is part of the larger Murray-Darling drainage system. Its headwaters are in the Bunya Mountains, which is 992 m above sea level. The river is a major source of water for Brisbane, and there are many tourist attractions along its shores. A visit to the Brisbane River will definitely make your next vacation trip one to remember.
Indigenous people in the area have long known about the Brisbane River. Aboriginal people have called the river Meeannjin and Maiwar. Both names come from the language of the Turrbal people, and were confirmed by explorers Tom Petrie and George Meston in the early nineteenth century. Until the late nineteenth century, when Meeanchin was first proposed as a new municipality, it remained a common name for the river.
There are many activities and attractions along the Brisbane River, but swimming is not recommended. It’s home to a number of sharks, including the mighty bull shark. While the sharks aren’t terribly large, they are still dangerous. Swimming isn’t safe here, but there are plenty of people who like to enjoy the river’s water activities. The city has several parks, including the Brisbane Botanical Gardens, and a waterfront promenade.
Until 2012, the Brisbane River was crossed by sixteen bridges. Three were built on the river’s lower reaches and included provision for cyclists and pedestrians. The other four bridges are rail and road-related, and they’re all in the inner city. Among the railway bridges are the Merivale Bridge, the Albert Bridge, and the Indooroopilly Railway Bridge. Some bridges are pedestrian-only, such as Kurilpa Bridge, Jack Pesch Bridge, and Goodwill.
