Darling River

The Darling River 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, New South Wales. 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. The Darling has been in poor health, suffering from overuse of its waters, pollution from pesticide runoff and prolonged drought. In some years it has barely flowed at all. The river has a high salt content and declining water quality. Increased rainfall in its catchment in 2010 has improved 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.

Read more about Darling River:  History, Course, In Popular Culture

Famous quotes containing the words darling and/or river:

    Far from the sun and summer-gale
    In thy green lap was Nature’s Darling laid,
    What time, where lucid Avon stray’d,
    To him the mighty mother did unveil
    Her awful face:
    Thomas Gray (1716–1771)

    My favorite figure of the American author is that of a man who breeds a favorite dog, which he throws into the Mississippi River for the pleasure of making a splash. The river does not splash, but it drowns the dog.
    Henry Brooks Adams (1838–1918)