Burkes Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burkes |
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 Location of the Burkes Creek mouth in New South Wales
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| Other name(s) | Pulletop, Burnetts River |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Riverina (IBRA) |
| LGA | Wagga Wagga |
| Town | Mangoplah, The Rock |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Kyeamba Gap near Turkey Springs 520 m (1,710 ft) 35°29′18″S 147°30′43″E / 35.48833°S 147.51194°E |
| River mouth | confluence with Bullenbong Creek south of Bulgary 167 m (548 ft) 35°5′48″S 146°58′1″E / 35.09667°S 146.96694°E |
| Length | 105 km (65 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Murrumbidgee catchment, Murray–Darling basin |
| Tributaries |
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Burkes Creek is a fascinating waterway located in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. It's mostly a perennial river, which means it flows almost all year round. This creek is an important part of the larger Murrumbidgee catchment, which itself is part of the huge Murray–Darling basin. Think of a catchment as a big bowl where all the rain and water flow into one main river system.
Where Does Burkes Creek Flow?
Burkes Creek starts its journey near a place called Turkey Springs, just below Kyeamba Gap. From there, it flows generally towards the southwest, then turns and heads northwest. Along its path, it's joined by three smaller streams, which are called tributaries. These smaller creeks add their water to Burkes Creek, making it bigger.
How Burkes Creek Connects to Other Rivers
Burkes Creek eventually meets up with another waterway called Bullenbong Creek. When two rivers or creeks meet, it's called a confluence. This meeting point is located south of a town called Bulgary. Bullenbong Creek then flows into the Old Man Creek. And guess what? Old Man Creek is a tributary of the mighty Murrumbidgee River! This shows how all these waterways are connected, like branches on a tree, all leading to a larger river system.
The Journey of Burkes Creek
From its starting point, Burkes Creek travels about 105-kilometre (65 mi) (that's about 65 miles!). During its journey, the water drops quite a bit in height. It goes from an elevation of 520 m (1,710 ft) (about 1,706 feet) down to 167 m (548 ft) (about 548 feet) where it joins Bullenbong Creek. That's a drop of 352 metres (1,155 ft)!
You can even see Burkes Creek if you're traveling on the Olympic Highway, as the highway crosses right over it near the town of The Rock.
