The Oldest Rivers in the World

"The oldest river in the world is the subject of some debate, but is largely agreed to be the Finke River, which is also known as the Larapinta by Indigenous communities in Australia. The river flows only a few times a year after heavy rainfall and extends around 600-750 kilometers (372-466 miles) to its outlet at Lake Eyre. Thought to be around 350 to 400 million years old . . . ."

"The oldest river in North America is thought to be the confusingly named New River, which runs approximately 547 kilometers (340 miles) from the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina into Virginia and West Virginia, where it eventually joins the Kanawha River. Estimates for the age of this river vary widely but most suggest it to be between 10 and 360 million years old."

". . . the oldest river in Europe is thought to be the Meuse, which flows 950 kilometers (590 miles) through three countries: Belgium and The Netherlands, from its starting point in France. This river is estimated to be 320 to 340 million years old."


So, how many of these rivers have you paddled? I've paddled a class 4 section of the New River in West Virginia, which you used to be able to see from 876' above on the New River Bridge. Having passed over there a few years ago, I'm not sure there are any stopping places on the bridge anymore.

I’ve paddled the New River in several places. There was a great place for practicing navigating a class II ledge.

There was a solo paddler who was paddling UP the rapids, ferrying up eddy by eddy. I was amazed. I had never seen that before. (This was 30+ years ago.)

Erica said:

There was a solo paddler who was paddling UP the rapids, ferrying up eddy by eddy.

Click to expand...

Whitewater folks call that kind up upstream paddling in rapids "attaining." It requires very good water reading skills and boat control to keep in the slowest current fingers, water shadows and eddies.

The National Park Service has an observation area on the east side of the route 19 bridge. Then once a year, normally in the second half of October, there is Bridge Day. The eastbound lanes are closed, pedestrians are allowed on the bridge, as well as BASE jumpers.

The New is a great canoeing river from near Boone North Carolina North to near Thurmond West Virginia, with the exception of Bluestone Lake just above Hinton.

Around the turn of the century I took a solo trip from Hinton to Thurmond. It was a wonderful trip with long rapids within the deep, green gorge. There were stairs from the river up to the Kroger in Hinton, and the opposite bank had a restaurant overlooking the river.

Later in the trip I was overflown by a West Virginia National Guard C-130. They were way below the rim of the gorge.

I’ve paddled several sections the South Fork of the New River near West Jefferson, NC. Nice class 1 and 2 rapids.

Interesting…..

I live in the West with newer steeper rivers. Most are Cenozoic.