Esk River (Queensland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Esk |
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 Location of Esk River mouth in Queensland
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| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | Far North Queensland, Wet Tropics of Queensland, Cape York Peninsula |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Great Dividing Range below Dowlings Hill 356 m (1,168 ft) 15°35′20″S 145°16′30″E / 15.58889°S 145.27500°E |
| River mouth | Walker Bay, Coral Sea south of Cooktown 0 m (0 ft) 15°31′50″S 145°16′04″E / 15.53056°S 145.26778°E |
| Length | 20 km (12 mi) |
The Esk River is a river found in the Wet Tropics area of Far North Queensland, Australia. It is a short but important river in this tropical region.
Contents
Journey of the Esk River
The Esk River begins its journey high up in the Great Dividing Range, near a place called Dowlings Hill. It gets its water from rain and runoff flowing down the mountains.
Flowing North
From its source, the river flows north across a flat coastal area. This area is mostly wild and doesn't have many people living there.
Through Wetlands
As it continues, the Esk River enters the Annan Forest Reserve. Here, it flows through a special type of wet land called a wetland. These wetlands are full of mangrove trees, which are unique trees that can grow in salty water.
Meeting the Sea
Near its end, the Esk River meets up with another river, the Annan River. Together, these two rivers flow into Walker Bay. From there, their waters join the Coral Sea. This meeting point is about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) south of the town of Cooktown.
River's Drop
The Esk River is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) long. During its journey, it drops quite a bit in height. It goes down 356 meters (1,168 feet) from its source to where it meets the sea.
River Health and Floods
A large part of the land around the Esk River is protected. This means it's kept safe from too much development.
Current Condition
As of 2013, the river looked very healthy. There wasn't much dirt building up in the river (called siltation). Also, the riverbanks were mostly strong, with only a few small areas where the land was washing away (erosion).
Past Floods
The Esk River can sometimes experience floods. In 1910, there was a big flood where the river rose 12 feet (about 3.7 meters) higher than its normal level.
