Billabong (lake) facts for kids
A billabong is a special type of small lake found in Australia. It's an Australian English word. You can think of it as a pool of water that used to be part of a river or stream.
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What is a Billabong?
A billabong is basically a small lake that forms when a river changes its course. These lakes are often shaped like a U or a crescent moon. They are also known as "oxbow lakes" because their shape can look like the U-shaped collar worn by an ox.
How Billabongs Form
Rivers don't always flow in a straight line. Over many years, a river might curve and bend, forming large loops. The water in the river moves faster on the outside of these bends and slower on the inside. This causes the river to erode, or wear away, the land on the outside of the bend and deposit, or drop, soil on the inside.
Eventually, the river might cut a new, straighter path across the narrow neck of one of its loops. When this happens, the old loop gets cut off from the main river. The water left behind in this cut-off loop forms a billabong. Since it's no longer connected to the main river, the water in a billabong can become still and calm.
Where the Word "Billabong" Comes From
The word "billabong" comes from the Wiradjuri language, an Indigenous Australian language. The original Wiradjuri word is believed to be "bilabaŋ". It's a unique Australian term that has become well-known around the world.
Billabongs in Australian Culture
Billabongs are an important part of the Australian landscape and culture. They often appear in Australian stories, poems, and songs. One of the most famous examples is in the opening line of the well-known Australian folk song "Waltzing Matilda". This song tells the story of a swagman (a traveling worker) by a billabong.
Billabongs are also important for wildlife. They provide a home for many different animals, including fish, birds, and sometimes even crocodiles, depending on the region. They are vital water sources in many dry parts of Australia.
