Geomorphological Evolution of the Navua River, Fiji

Abstract

The Navua River on the main island of Fiji displays anomalous drainage features and associated fluvial forms. The River course makes a right-angled bend approximately halfway along its course, beyond which it flows through a narrow gorge cut into hard volcanic rocks. Several tributaries enter the gorge as high cascades from hanging valleys. It is proposed that the former course of the palaeo-Navua River flowed east in a straight line along the modern Waidina River, and eventually discharged into Fiji's Rewa River system. Evidence for this is the presence of a spectacular dry gorge (a wind gap) at the head of the Waidina River. Previous ideas of river capture fail to explain the evolution of the local fluvial geomorphology. Instead, tectonic uplift probably dammed the palaeo-Navua and diverted it to its present short course to the sea. This new hypothesis provides a more plausible, simultaneous account for all the major fluvial geomorphic features, their geographical distribution and their relationship with geology in the Navua region.

Keywords:

• river diversion
• river capture
• gorges
• Fiji Islands