Bear Creek (Rocky River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bear Creek |
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Location of Bear Creek mouth
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| Other name(s) | Tributary to Rocky River |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Chatham |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Brush Creek divide about 4 miles west-southwest of Bonlee, North Carolina 565 ft (172 m) 35°38′14″N 079°29′03″W / 35.63722°N 79.48417°W |
| River mouth | Rocky River about 6 miles south of Pittsboro, North Carolina 275 ft (84 m) 35°37′52″N 079°12′26″W / 35.63111°N 79.20722°W |
| Length | 24.49 mi (39.41 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | generally east |
| River system | Deep River |
| Basin size | 51.71 square miles (133.9 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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| Bridges | Bonlee-Bennett Road, Siler City-Glendon Road, Edwards Hill Church Road, NC 902, Bonlee-Carbonton Road, Old US 421, US 421, Vernie Phillips Road, Meronies Church Road, Pittsboro-Goldston Road, Marys Chapel Road, Woody Dam Road |
Bear Creek is a cool stream that flows for about 24.49 mi (39.41 km) in Chatham County, North Carolina. It's a tributary, which means it's a smaller river that flows into a bigger one. Bear Creek joins the Rocky River, which is part of the larger Deep River system.
About Bear Creek
Bear Creek is an important natural feature in Chatham County. It helps drain water from a large area of land. This stream is known as a "4th order tributary." This means it has joined up with several smaller streams before it reaches the Rocky River.
Where Does Bear Creek Flow?
Bear Creek begins its journey about 4 miles west-southwest of a town called Bonlee, North Carolina. It starts in Chatham County and then flows mostly towards the east.
The stream continues its path until it meets the Rocky River. This meeting point is about 6 miles south of Pittsboro. The water from Bear Creek then becomes part of the Rocky River's flow.
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is like a giant bowl or basin that collects all the rain and snowmelt in an area. All this water then drains into a common outlet, like a river, lake, or ocean. The Bear Creek watershed is the entire area of land that drains into Bear Creek.
The Bear Creek watershed covers about 51.71 square miles (133.9 km2) of land. This area gets about 47.6 inches of rain each year. A big part of this watershed, about 55%, is covered by forests. These forests are important because they help keep the water clean and provide homes for wildlife.
