The Murray-Darling Basin,is of immense economic significance,lying across the great wheat-sheep belt in its climatically most reliable section.The Murray-Darling Basin occupies about one-seventh of Australia’s area.D...The Murray-Darling Basin,is of immense economic significance,lying across the great wheat-sheep belt in its climatically most reliable section.The Murray-Darling Basin occupies about one-seventh of Australia’s area.During the second half of the 19th century,river shipping was of great importance.With growing demand for irrigation water and competition from railways,navigation practically ceased.The basin has by far Australia’s greatest area of irrigated pastures and crops,some 1.5 million hectares,more than 70 percent of the national total.It is the country’s second largest wine-producing region;other major products include grains,cattle,fruit,and sheep.The River Murray Weirs were constructed 100 years ago for riverboat navigation and to supply water to inland communities.But the weirs have also degraded wetlands,salinized floodplains,and devastated fish populations.Historical lessons learned from other great rivers of North America can also be applied to the Murray River watershed in Australia which is experiencing lower water levels,salinization,and reduced navigation options The primary objectives of this research are to document the history of the Murray River which became Australia’s interior pathway for settlement,navigation,and trade and encourage the creation of a Comprehensive Plan for Sustainable Development of the Murray-Darling Basin to Mitigate the Environmental Impacts.Irrigation,however,led to serious salinity problems,and according to WHO(World Health Organization)criteria,was unfit for drinking.The problem of Murray salinity has been recognized as of national significance to Australia.展开更多
文摘The Murray-Darling Basin,is of immense economic significance,lying across the great wheat-sheep belt in its climatically most reliable section.The Murray-Darling Basin occupies about one-seventh of Australia’s area.During the second half of the 19th century,river shipping was of great importance.With growing demand for irrigation water and competition from railways,navigation practically ceased.The basin has by far Australia’s greatest area of irrigated pastures and crops,some 1.5 million hectares,more than 70 percent of the national total.It is the country’s second largest wine-producing region;other major products include grains,cattle,fruit,and sheep.The River Murray Weirs were constructed 100 years ago for riverboat navigation and to supply water to inland communities.But the weirs have also degraded wetlands,salinized floodplains,and devastated fish populations.Historical lessons learned from other great rivers of North America can also be applied to the Murray River watershed in Australia which is experiencing lower water levels,salinization,and reduced navigation options The primary objectives of this research are to document the history of the Murray River which became Australia’s interior pathway for settlement,navigation,and trade and encourage the creation of a Comprehensive Plan for Sustainable Development of the Murray-Darling Basin to Mitigate the Environmental Impacts.Irrigation,however,led to serious salinity problems,and according to WHO(World Health Organization)criteria,was unfit for drinking.The problem of Murray salinity has been recognized as of national significance to Australia.
