Nandewar Range

Nandewar Range
Mount Kaputar, the third peak from the left, is the range's highest peak.
Highest point
PeakMount Kaputar
Elevation1,508 m (4,948 ft)
Geography
Nandewar Range is located in New South Wales
Nandewar Range
Nandewar Range
Location in New South Wales
CountryAustralia
StateNew South Wales
Range coordinates30°30′S 151°00′E / 30.5°S 151°E / -30.5; 151
Geology
Rock ageCenozoic
Rock typeShield volcano

The Nandewar Range, a mountain range that is part of the Great Dividing Range, is located in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. The range is situated approximately 30 km (19 mi) east of the township of Narrabri.

John Oxley was the first European to see the range in 1818 as he explored the New South Wales.[1]

Location and features

The range is located on the western, inland, side of the New England region, and generally forms the watershed divide between the Namoi River and Gwydir River catchment basins to the south and north respectively.[citation needed] The Macdonald River starting south of Walcha drains west to Warrabah National Park where it changes its name to the Namoi then is added to by the Manilla River, Peel River and Mooki River. The Horton River runs north to the Gwydir. Both rivers together drain segments of the Nandewar Range.[citation needed]

The eastern part of the Nandewar Range starts at the Great Dividing Range south of Uralla. The main road between Narrabri and Bingara crosses the range. At its western end, the Nandewar Range culminates at Mount Kaputar, a complex of volcanic origin, from which there are views of the flat inland plains of New South Wales.

Forests on the north west slopes of Mount Kaputar.

The foothill areas of the Nandewar Range are used for grazing and cropping.[citation needed] There are forests in some of the higher areas. The Mount Kaputar area is included in Mount Kaputar National Park.

Grattai Mountain rises to 1,301 m (4,268 ft).[2] and is the most northerly peak in the range.

The range is occasionally dusted with light snow in winter.[2]

Geology

The range is the remnants of an eroded basaltic shield volcano that formed about 18 million years ago. Some of the exposed rocks in the area are 230 million years old.[3]

Etymology

The first is a volcanic plug called 'Ninghdoo' (pronounced locally as Ningy-doo) or 'Nungadhun'. The names Nandewar, Kaputar and Ninghdoo are the Gamilaraay language names for these features.

Peaks

Mountains within the Nandewar Range include;

See also

References

  1. ^ Oxley, John (2014). "Journal of an Expedition in Australia — Part II". Journals of Two Expeditions into the Interior of New South Wales, by order of the British Government in the years 1817-18. The University of Adelaide. Archived from the original (ebook) on July 15, 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b Hutton, Geoffrey (1981). Australia's Natural Heritage. Australian Conservation Foundation. p. 102. ISBN 0-85802-063-7.
  3. ^ Mount Kaputar National Park Park Guide (1994). New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service.
  4. ^ "Grattai Mountain - NSW". ExplorOz. I.T. Beyond Pty Ltd. 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Mount Dowe - NSW". ExplorOz. I.T. Beyond Pty Ltd. 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Mount Kaputar - NSW". ExplorOz. I.T. Beyond Pty Ltd. 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Mount Ningadhun - NSW". ExplorOz. I.T. Beyond Pty Ltd. 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
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