Acheron

The Acheron (/ˈækərən/; Ancient Greek: Ἀχέρων (Acheron) or Ἀχερούσιος (Acherusius); Modern Greek: Αχέροντας (Acherontas)) is a river located in the Epirus region of northwest Greece. Its source is near the village Zotiko, in the southwestern part of the Ioannina regional unit it flows into the Ionian Sea in Ammoudia, near Parga.

Mythology

In ancient Greek mythology, Acheron was known as the "river of woe", and was one of the five rivers of the Greek underworld. In the Homeric poems the Acheron was described as a river of Hades, into which Cocytus and Phlegethon both flowed.

The Roman poet Virgil called it the principal river of Tartarus, from which the Styx and Cocytus both sprang. The newly dead would be ferried across the Acheron by Charon in order to enter the Underworld.

The Suda describes the river as "a place of healing, not a place of punishment, cleansing and purging the sins of humans."

According to later traditions, Acheron had been a son of Helios and either Gaia or Demeter, who had been turned into the Underworld river bearing his name after he refreshed the Titans with drink during their contest with Zeus. By this myth, Acheron is also the father of Ascalaphus by either Orphne or Gorgyra.

Acheron River (Victoria)

The Acheron River , a minor inland perennial river of the Goulburn Broken catchment, part of the Murray-Darling basin, is located in the lower South Eastern Highlands bioregion and Northern Country/North Central regions of the Australian state of Victoria. The headwaters of the Acheron River rise on the north–western slopes of the Yarra Ranges, below The Knobs and descend to flow into the Goulburn River near Alexandra.

Location and features

The river rises below The Knobs on the north–western slopes of the Yarra Ranges, part of the Great Dividing Range, within the Yarra Ranges National Park. The flows generally north by west, much of its course following the path of the Acheron Way, through rugged national park as the river descends, then north, joined by nine tributaries including the Steavenson, Little Steavenson, and Little rivers, before reaching its confluence with the Goulburn River at the settlement of Acheron, south of the town of Alexandra. The river descends 447 metres (1,467 ft) over its 84-kilometre (52 mi) course.

Acheron River (Marlborough)

The Acheron River is a river in the South Island of New Zealand, in Marlborough and flows into the Clarence River. It flows southwest and then east for a total of 60 kilometres (37 mi), joining the Clarence at the southern end of the Inland Kaikoura mountains. The Alma and Severn Rivers flow into the Acheron before it joins the Clarence.

See also

Coordinates: 42°07′31″S 173°06′12″E / 42.1252°S 173.1033°E / -42.1252; 173.1033