Physical Characteristics of Australia’s Murray River

Australia’s Longest River System

The Murray River stretches ~2,508 km (1,558 mi) from the Snowy Mountains to the Southern Ocean, forming the backbone of the Murray‑Darling Basin.

Key Physical Traits

• Source: Confluence of Snowy and Murrumbidgee Rivers near Jindabyne, NSW.
• Major Tributaries: Darling (longest), Goulburn, Loddon, Campaspe.
• Course: Northwesterly through NSW, Victoria, South Australia; passes Albury, Swan Hill, Mildura, Murray Bridge.
• Mouth: Complex channel‑lagoon system (Murray Mouth) near Goolwa, SA.
• Basin: Murray‑Darling Basin—over 1 million km², covering parts of four states.
• Water Quality: Variable; impacted by agriculture, industry, urban runoff.
• Flow Regime: Highly seasonal—floods in wet periods, low flows in drought.

Significance

The Murray underpins irrigation, drinking water, ecosystems, and industries across southeastern Australia.