Nandewar Range

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Nandewar Range

Mount Kaputar is the third peak from the left in this image and it is the highest. The first is a volcanic plug called 'Ninghdoo' (pronounced locally as Ningy-doo) or 'Nungadhun'. The names Nandewar, Kaputar and Ninghdoo are the traditional Kamilaroi names for these features.
Highest point
Peak Mount Kaputar
Elevation 1,508 m (4,948 ft)
Geography
Country Australia
State New South Wales
Range coordinates 30°30′S 151°00′E / 30.5°S 151°E / -30.5; 151Coordinates: 30°30′S 151°00′E / 30.5°S 151°E / -30.5; 151
Geology
Period Cenozoic
Type of rock Shield volcano

The Nandewar Range is a mountain range 30 km (19 mi) east of Narrabri in New South Wales, Australia. John Oxley was the first European to see the range in 1818 as he explored the New South Wales Northern Tablelands.[2]

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. 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 large segments of the Nandewar Range.

The eastern part of the Nandewar Range starts at the Great Dividing Range south of Uralla. As this is already in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales it is low, hilly and not particularly distinctive. The main road between Barraba and Bingara crosses the range. At its western end, however, the Nandewar Range culminates at Mount Kaputar, a complex of volcanic origin, from which spectacular views of the flat inland plains of New South Wales can be seen.

Forests on the north west slopes of Mount Kaputar.

Small patches of rainforest mark the western limit of some tree species.[citation needed] The foothill areas of the Nandewar Range are used for grazing and cropping. There are forests in some of the higher areas. The Mount Kaputar area is included in Mount Kaputar National Park.

Grattai Mountain rises to 1310 metres.[1] and is the most northerly peak in the range.

The range is occasionally dusted with light snow in winter.[1]

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]

Peaks

Mountains within the Nandewar Range include;

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hutton, Geoffrey (1981). Australia's Natural Heritage. Australian Conservation Foundation. p. 102. ISBN 0-85802-063-7. 
  2. ↑ http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/o/oxley/john/o95j/part2.html#chapter2
  3. ↑ Mount Kaputar National Park Park Guide (1994). New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service.
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