Light River (South Australia)

Light (Yarralinka)
River
Wasley Road ford through Light River
Country	Australia
State	South Australia
Region	Mid North
Tributaries
- left	Tothill Creek, Julia Creek, Pine Creek, St Kitts Creek
- right	Gilbert River
Source	Mount Lofty Range
- location	Waterloo
- elevation	449 m (1,473 ft)
- coordinates	33°57′53″S 138°52′21″E / 33.9646°S 138.8724°E / -33.9646; 138.8724
Mouth	Gulf St Vincent
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	34°34′43″S 138°21′35″E / 34.5786°S 138.3596°E / -34.5786; 138.3596Coordinates: 34°34′43″S 138°21′35″E / 34.5786°S 138.3596°E / -34.5786; 138.3596
Length	164 km (102 mi)
Location of the river mouth in South Australia

The Light River, commonly called the River Light, is a seasonal and significant river in the Mid North region of the Australian state of South Australia.

The Light River rises on the northern slopes of the Mount Lofty Range below Waterloo and flows generally south through the localities of Steelton, Marrabel, Hamilton, and Hansborough. Here, about halfway through its course, the river flows westerly past Kapunda, Linwood, Hamley Bridge, Mallala, and Lower Light. The river reaches its mouth and enters the Gulf St Vincent through a mangrove estuary. The river descends 447 metres (1,467 ft) over its 164-kilometre (102 mi) course.

The Light River has an expansive catchment within mainly undulating hills, much cleared since European settlement for farming and grazing purposes. There are no geological features that would permit a significant dam or reservoir. The noteworthy tributaries, by descending elevation, are Tothill Creek, Julia Creek, Pine Creek, St Kitts Creek, and the Gilbert River. The latter is a major tributary, merging into the Light River just below Hamley Bridge.

The indigenous name for the river is Yarralinka. The upper half of the Light River lies within the traditional lands of the indigenous Ngadjuri people of the Mid North, while much of the lower half is within the territory of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains.