Gordon River

Gordon
River
A tour boat on the lower Gordon River
Country	Australia
State	Tasmania
Regions	Central Highlands, South-west, Western
Tributaries
- left	Adams River, Serpentine River, Albert River, Orange River, Olga River, Sprent River, Franklin River
- right	Gell River, Boyes River, Pokana River, Holley River, Smith River, Denison River, Spence River
Landmark	Gordon Splits
Source	King William Range
- location	Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
- elevation	570 m (1,870 ft)
- coordinates	42°18′48″S 146°12′56″E / 42.31333°S 146.21556°E / -42.31333; 146.21556
Mouth	Southern Ocean
- location	Wrights Bay
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	42°25′57″S 145°30′25″E / 42.43250°S 145.50694°E / -42.43250; 145.50694Coordinates: 42°25′57″S 145°30′25″E / 42.43250°S 145.50694°E / -42.43250; 145.50694
Length	172 km (107 mi)
Reservoir	Lake Gordon
National parks	Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers; Southwest
Location of the Gordon River mouth in Tasmania

The Gordon River is a major perennial river located in the central highlands, south-west, and western regions of Tasmania, Australia.

The Gordon River rises below Mount Hobhouse in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park draining the eastern slopes of the King William Range. The river flows generally south and to the west of the Gordon Range before flowing west through the Gordon Gap and spilling into Lake Gordon, an impounded reservoir created by damming the Gordon at the Gordon Dam. Together with water fed from Lake Pedder, the principal purpose of the reservoir is for generation of hydro-electricity at the Gordon Power Station.

Flowing from east to west through Lake Gordon, the river continues west, passing through the Gordon Splits, a series of gorges once considered impassable until 1958 when Olegas Truchanas, a conservationist and nature photographer, was the first person to navigate the Gordon River in a kayak. The river flows north by west and then due north and finally due west as it reaches its mouth and empties into Macquarie Harbour at Wrights Bay.

From source to mouth, the river is joined by 25 tributaries including the Gell, Boyes, Pokana, Holley, Adams, Serpentine, Albert, Orange, Smith, Denison, Olga, Sprent, Franklin, and the Spence rivers.