Tamar River
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox river The Tamar River, officially kanamaluka / River Tamar,<ref>Template:Gazette TAS</ref> is a Template:Convert estuary located in northern Tasmania, Australia. Despite being called a river, the waterway is a brackish and tidal estuary over its entire length.
Location and featuresEdit
Formed by the confluence of the North Esk and South Esk rivers at Template:TAScity, kanamaluka / River Tamar flows generally north towards its mouth at Low Head, north of the settlement George Town<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and into the Bass Strait via Port Dalrymple. kanamaluka / River Tamar has several minor tributaries including the Supply River.<ref name=bonzle/>
Low Head Lighthouse is located at the tip of a peninsula, on the east side of the mouth of the river. The only full crossing of the river is the Batman Bridge in the relatively remote area of Sidmouth, around halfway up the river.
The Tamar river is complicated in that it silts up frequently, a contributing factor to its slow decline in use. Over time dredging operations have been required. A scheme enacted between the 1920s and 1970s planned to partially dam the river and slow the flow around the western side of Tamar Island and speed up the flow around the eastern side (the main channel), by sinking 14 boats to disrupt water flow.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The success or not of this scheme is debated.
Although the Port of Launceston is now used very little in comparison to the past<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the SeaCat Tasmania ferry no longer docks at George Town,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the river still is used for shipping, with light and heavy industries at George Town including aluminium smelters as well as commercial boat cruises.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
EtymologyEdit
The Tamar River was named after the River Tamar in South West England by Colonel William Paterson in December 1804.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
FishingEdit
The last 10 kilometres of the Tamar river estuary are smooth and sheltered waters (observe tides and weather). The Clarence Point boat ramp has good picnic amenities, toilets, and a pontoon on the western side. The more wind exposed basic boat ramp at Kelso is a few kilometres further north.
George Town, a significant port town, is on the eastern side and has lots of amenities close by. The Low head basic boat ramp is also on the eastern side, just past pilot bay, a few kilometres further north.
