Barratta Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barratta |
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 Location of Barratta Creek mouth in Queensland
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| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | North Queensland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Leichhardt Range below Bunkers Hill 224 m (735 ft) 19°58′52″S 146°56′47″E / 19.98111°S 146.94639°E |
| River mouth | Bowling Green Bay, Coral Sea 0 m (0 ft) 19°25′09″S 147°15′07″E / 19.41917°S 147.25194°E |
| Length | 109 km (68 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,831 km2 (707 sq mi) |
The Barratta Creek is a stream located in North Queensland, Australia. It flows for about 109 kilometers (68 miles). This creek is an important part of the natural environment in the region.
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About Barratta Creek
Barratta Creek is a stream that starts in the mountains of North Queensland. It flows through different types of land before reaching the ocean. The creek helps support many plants and animals in the area.
Where Barratta Creek Flows
The creek begins high up in the Leichhardt Range. This range is part of the larger Great Dividing Range. From there, the water flows towards the northeast.
The creek passes through mostly quiet, undeveloped areas. It travels near Woodhouse Mountain. It also runs almost next to the Haughton River.
Eventually, Barratta Creek crosses the Bruce Highway. It then enters the Bowling Green Bay Conservation Park. Finally, it empties into Bowling Green Bay, which is part of the Coral Sea. The creek drops about 224 meters (735 feet) from its start to where it meets the sea.
The Land Around the Creek
The area that collects water for Barratta Creek is called its catchment area. This area covers about 1,831 square kilometers (707 square miles). A small part of this area, about 173 square kilometers (67 square miles), is made of estuarine wetlands. These are special areas where fresh creek water mixes with salty ocean water.
The creek's banks and nearby land are called the riparian habitat. Since the 1970s, some of this land has changed. Forests along the creek were cleared to grow sugarcane. However, much of the land in the catchment area is still used for pastoralism. This means it is used for grazing animals, especially cattle.
What's in a Name?
The name "Barratta" comes from the local Aboriginal people. It is believed to describe a chain of lagoons. These lagoons are small, shallow lakes found in the area.
