Onyx River
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The Onyx River is a meltwater stream which flows westward through the Wright Valley from Wright Lower Glacier to Lake Vanda, during a few months of the Antarctic summer. It is the largest river in Antarctica, and at 30 kilometers in length, it is also the longest. It has several tributaries, and there is a meteorological station at the mouth of the river. Flow levels are highly variable, both during the day and between summers, with the river failing to reach the lake some years. In contrast, it can cause significant erosion in flood years, and was rafted in 1984 by New Zealand researchers. While there are no fish in Onyx River, it does support microscopic life, and the algal blooms can be quite extensive.
[edit] External links
- Antarctica’s longest river, Antarctic Sun, January 26, 2003
- What the flood revealed, Antarctic Sun, January 26, 2003
- Aerial photo of the Onyx River
- Photo from lower altitude
- Map of the Onyx River
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