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Wilberforce River

Coordinates: 43°20′S 171°26′E / 43.333°S 171.433°E / -43.333; 171.433
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Wilberforce River
Wilberforce River is located in New Zealand
Wilberforce River
Location of the mouth within New Zealand
Location
CountryNew Zealand
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationSouthern Alps
Mouth 
 • location
Rakaia River

The Wilberforce River is a river in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. It is located in western Canterbury and is naturally a tributary of the Rakaia River,[1] but like the Harper River, it has had some of its flow diverted into Lake Coleridge as part of a hydroelectricity project. This diversion boosted the output of the Coleridge Power Station and was established in 1977.[2]

An early proposal for the route of the Midland Line railway from Christchurch to Westland involved extending the Whitecliffs Branch to the West Coast via the Wilberforce River and Browning Pass / Nōti Raureka. This was one of the proposals rejected in favour of a route via Arthur's Pass.[3]

References

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Further reading

[edit]
  • Churchman, Geoffrey B; Hurst, Tony (2001) [1990, 1991]. The Railways of New Zealand: A Journey through History (Second ed.). Transpress New Zealand. ISBN 0-908876-20-3.

43°20′S 171°26′E / 43.333°S 171.433°E / -43.333; 171.433