Ellen Brook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ellen Brook |
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|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Groundwater, various streams South of Gingin 31°27′50″S 115°55′41″E / 31.464°S 115.928°E |
| River mouth | Swan River Belhus 31°47′42″S 116°00′18″E / 31.795°S 116.005°E |
| Length | 65 kilometres (40 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 715 square kilometres (276 sq mi) |
Ellen Brook is a special stream in Western Australia. It doesn't flow all year round, only for part of it! This brook starts south of a town called Gingin. It then flows all the way to the famous Swan River.
Contents
Journey of Ellen Brook
The Ellen Brook begins its journey south of Gingin. This area is part of the Wheatbelt region. The brook flows south, mostly next to and east of Brand Highway. It passes through many farms and fields.
Where the Brook Flows
Near a town called Muchea, Ellen Brook goes under several roads. These roads include Brand Highway, Granary Drive, and Tonkin Highway. After that, it continues south. It flows between Great Northern Highway and Muchea South Road. The brook also passes west of RAAF Base Pearce in Bullsbrook.
The brook then reaches Upper Swan. Here, it goes under Muchea South Road again. It flows past homes in areas like The Vines and Belhus. Finally, Ellen Brook joins the Swan River in the beautiful Swan Valley.
Water Sources and Tributaries
Smaller streams, called tributaries, feed into Ellen Brook. Some tributaries come from the west. Their water comes from underground, from a place called the Gnangara Mound. This is like a big sponge of water under the ground.
Other tributaries come from the east. Their water comes from underground too. This water is stored in rock layers called aquifers. These aquifers are found on the Dandaragan plateau.
When the Brook Flows
Ellen Brook is an "ephemeral" stream. This means it only flows for part of the year. You can see water in it mainly from May to December. During the drier months, it might dry up.
Ellen Brook has a large "catchment area." This is the land where all the rain drains into the brook. Its catchment area is about 715 square kilometers. This makes it the biggest part of the Swan–Canning river system.
Keeping the Water Clean
Ellen Brook is important for the Swan–Canning river system. It can carry nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus into the river. Too much of these can harm the river's health. The Western Australia Department of Water and Environmental Regulation watches the water quality. They check to make sure the water stays healthy.
How Ellen Brook Got Its Name
Ellen Brook is named after a special person. Her name was Ellen Stirling. She was the wife of James Stirling. James Stirling was the very first Governor of Western Australia.
A suburb near the mouth of the brook is also named after it. This suburb is called Ellenbrook. So, both the brook and the suburb share this historic name!
