Beaufort Inlet, Western Australia facts for kids

Beaufort Inlet, also known as Pallinup Estuary, is a special body of water found in the Great Southern part of Western Australia. It's located about 130 kilometres (81 miles) east of a city called Albany.

What is Beaufort Inlet?

Beaufort Inlet is a type of inlet that acts like an estuary. An estuary is a place where a river meets the sea, and fresh water mixes with salty ocean water. This inlet is mostly shaped and controlled by the power of ocean waves.

How Does This Estuary Work?

The inlet is mainly influenced by wave energy. This means the strong waves from the ocean play a big role in how the water moves and how the sand and sediments are shaped around the inlet. It's like the waves are constantly sculpting the entrance.

What's Happening to the Inlet?

Sadly, the Beaufort Inlet has changed a lot over time. This is because much of the land around it has been cleared for other uses. Because of these changes, the estuary has become eutrophied. This means it has too many nutrients, often from farms, which can cause too much plant growth. When these plants die, they use up a lot of oxygen in the water. This lack of oxygen can sometimes lead to fish kills, where many fish die because they can't breathe.

How Big is Beaufort Inlet?

Beaufort Inlet covers a total area of about 5.5 square kilometres (2.1 square miles). The main part of the inlet, called the central basin, is about 4.2 square kilometres (1.6 square miles). The inlet gets its water from the Pallinup River, which is also known as the Salt River. The inlet holds a large amount of water, about 6,500,000 cubic metres (230,000,000 cubic feet). A sandbar, which is about 500 metres (1,600 feet) long, separates the inlet from the ocean. This sandbar only opens up to the sea every few years.