De Grey River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids De Grey |
|
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | confluence of Nullagine River and Oakover River 129 metres (423 ft) |
| River mouth | Breaker Inlet, Indian Ocean sea level |
| Length | 193 kilometres (120 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 56,720 square kilometres (21,900 sq mi) |
The De Grey River is an important river located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It was named on August 16, 1861, by an explorer and surveyor named Francis Gregory. He named it after Thomas de Grey, 2nd Earl de Grey, who was a leader of the Royal Geographical Society at that time.
Where Does the De Grey River Flow?
The De Grey River starts where two other rivers meet. These are the Oakover River and the Nullagine River. This meeting point is south of a place called Callawa.
From there, the river flows mostly towards the west and northwest. It travels a long way before finally emptying into the Indian Ocean. This happens at a spot called Breaker Inlet. This inlet is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of Port Hedland.
River Features and Environment
The river bed of the De Grey River is very wide. It can be anywhere from 100 to 130 meters (328 to 426 feet) across. For most of the year, this river bed is dry.
However, the land along the river's banks is very fertile. This means it's good for growing plants. You can find lots of grass and trees along the river's edge.
Even when the river is mostly dry, it has many pools of water. These pools stay semi-permanent, meaning they don't always dry up completely. Some of these pools have interesting names like Yukerakine Pool, Muccanoo Pool, Talyirina Pool, Wardoomoondener Pool, and Triangle Pool.
What Are Tributaries?
A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger river. The De Grey River has eleven different tributaries that feed into it.
Some of its main tributaries include the Oakover River and the Nullagine River, which are where it starts. Other important ones are the Coongan River, East Strelley River, Shaw River, Miningarra Creek, Egg Creek, and Kookenyia Creek. These smaller waterways help to fill the De Grey River, especially after it rains.
