The Murray Darling is a river system in Australia, named after its two largest rivers, the Murray River and the Darling River. It is the third largest water catchment on earth, covering over one million square kilometers, spanning across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory.
This river system is crucial for agriculture in Australia, with over 2 million people being dependent on it for their livelihood. The climate varies across the basin, from temperate along the coast to arid in the inland areas. The area is home to diverse ecosystems, including dryland salinity, floodplain wetlands, floodplains, and river red gum forests.
The Murray Darling River system is also an important cultural site for the Aboriginal people, who have lived along these rivers for over 40,000 years. However, the river system's health has been impacted by human activities, with degradation from irrigation, deforestation and pollution posing significant environmental problems.
Efforts are being made for the sustainable management of the river system, including water conservation efforts and projects to restore and maintain native biodiversity. Despite these challenges, the Murray Darling remains one of Australia's most iconic and important river systems.
