Principal river of Australia.
Rising near Mount New South Wales , it flows across southeastern Australia from the Snowy Mountains to the Great Australian Bight of the Indian Ocean; it is 1,610 mi (2,590 km) long. It forms the boundary between Victoria and New South Wales and then turns south and flows into Encounter Bay through Lake {{link=Alexandrina, Lake">Alexandrina . River shipping was important in the 19th century, but navigation practically ceased with growing competition from railways and the demand for irrigation water. The river valley is of great economic importance, fostering the production of grains, fruit, and wine, and the raising of cattle and sheep.