Huon River
| Huon River Taloonne | |
|---|---|
Lower reaches of the Huon River in winter | |
| Etymology | Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec, a French explorer |
| Native name | Taloonne (Southeast Tasmanian) |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Tasmania |
| Region | South-west, South-east Tasmania |
| Cities | Judbury, Ranelagh, Huonville, Franklin, Cygnet (Port Cygnet) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Marsden Range |
| • location | Southwest National Park below Junction Hill |
| • coordinates | 42°54′S 146°20′E / 42.900°S 146.333°E |
| • elevation | 578 m (1,896 ft) |
| Mouth | D'Entrecasteaux Channel |
• location | Surveyors Bay |
• coordinates | 43°16′52″S 147°6′51″E / 43.28111°S 147.11417°E |
| Length | 174 km (108 mi) |
| Width | |
| • maximum | 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) |
| Depth | |
| • average | 3 metres (9.8 ft) |
| • maximum | 12 metres (39 ft) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Weld River, Russell River, Little Denison River, Mountain River |
| • right | Anne River, Cracroft River, Picton River, Arve River |
| National park | Southwest National Park |
The Huon River (/ˈhjuːɒnˈrɪvə/ HYOO-on-RIV-ə, Mellukerdee/palawa kani: Taloonne) is a perennial river in the southwest and southeast regions of Tasmania, Australia. At 174 kilometres (108 mi) long, the Huon River is the fifth-longest in the state, with its course flowing east through the fertile Huon Valley and emptying into the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, before flowing into the Tasman Sea.
At its mouth, the Huon River is over 5 kilometres (3 mi) wide, and in the lower reaches, the river's average depth is 3 metres (10 ft), with maximum depths of up to 12 metres (39 ft). The Egg Islands, in this lower tidal zone, are ecologically significant for their rich wetlands and birdlife.
The Huon River was historically a transportation route for early settlers, the timber industry, and agricultural goods. The development of roads in the Huon Valley over the 19th century eventually overtook the river as the primary transport route.