Fortescue Marshes facts for kids
Fortescue Marsh is a large, flat, and often wet area in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is part of the upper Fortescue River. This special place is sometimes called the Fortescue Marshes because it's made up of many marshy areas.
The Fortescue River starts in this very flat area. Here, smaller streams like Western Creek and Warrawanda Creek join the river. The river then flows through a wide, not-so-clear path. Later, it forms a clearer channel with many pools before reaching the ocean's edge.
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A Special Place for Birds
The Fortescue Marshes cover a huge area, about 960 square kilometers. This makes it a very important spot for birds. BirdLife International has named it an Important Bird Area (IBA).
When the marshes are full of water, they become a home for many birds. Up to 270,000 waterbirds can live here at one time! This includes more than 1% of the world's population for 14 different types of birds.
Home of the Rare Night Parrot
The Fortescue Marshes are also famous for a very rare bird called the night parrot. This bird is considered critically endangered, meaning it's very close to disappearing forever. Since 1990, the night parrot has only been seen a few times, and one of those rare sightings was right here in the Fortescue Marshes. This makes the area incredibly important for protecting this special bird.
Iron Ore Mining Nearby
The Fortescue Marshes are located in an area where a lot of iron ore is found. Iron ore is a rock that contains iron, which is used to make steel. Because of this, there are iron ore mines operating nearby.
Mining Operations
Some of the big mining operations in the area include the Roy Hill Iron Mine and the Christmas Creek Iron Ore Mine. People who manage these mines often visit the Fortescue Marshes. They check on the area because it is very sensitive. They want to make sure the mining activities do not harm the unique land and its wildlife.
