Friday 5 April 2013

April 4 Mannum

Our explorations today took us to Mannum, situated in the Murraylands. Saw the "PS Marion" which is a unique paddle steamer and the only vessel of her type left in the world. It belongs to the community of Mannum and is moored at Arnold Park Wharf  where it is part of the museum. We really enjoyed the museum and especially all the information about the 1956 flood which is the biggest this century and enveloped thousands of acres in the Murray-Darling Basin. Also moored further downstream was the "Murray Princess", the largest boat on the river. It looks more like the paddle steamers that plied the Mississippi River as it has the blades on the back.
Came back and explored the town of Murray Bridge which is the fourth largest city in SA. We drove across the bridge spanning the Murray and then I walked back. The car and rail bridge are both old steel bridges. The first bridge to span the Murray here was built in 1879.
Between Sturt Reserve and upstream from the bridges, there are 18 sunken paddle steamers and barges which range in depth from 8 - 18 metres.

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