Gordon Inlet facts for kids

Gordon Inlet is a special type of water body called an estuary, found in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. It's located at the southwest edge of the Fitzgerald River National Park, about 15 kilometres (9 miles) northwest of the town of Bremer Bay.

What is Gordon Inlet?

Gordon Inlet is a shallow estuary that changes a lot. It often dries up almost completely because of high evaporation, which is when water turns into vapor and goes into the air. The water in the inlet is salty, like the ocean. Sometimes it's a little less salty than seawater, but it can also be more than four times saltier!

The Gairdner River flows into Gordon Inlet, bringing in a huge amount of fresh water each year – about 9.4 million cubic metres (332 million cubic feet). This river helps keep the inlet supplied with water.

How the Inlet Works

Gordon Inlet is mainly shaped by the power of waves. This means that ocean waves play a big role in how the inlet looks and how its water moves. The inlet covers an area of about 6.4 square kilometres (2.5 square miles). Most of this area is the main water basin and natural barriers. There are also smaller areas of salt marsh and muddy flats that are sometimes covered by water.

The main type of plant you'll find growing in the water here is a special kind of seagrass called Ruppia maritima.

How Gordon Inlet Got Its Name

Gordon Inlet was named in 1848 by John Septimus Roe, who was the Surveyor-General of Western Australia at the time. He named it after Gordon Gairdner. Mr. Gairdner worked in the Colonial Office in London, which was a government department that managed British colonies around the world. He was a senior clerk and later became the Chief Clerk. He was also the Secretary and Registrar for the Order of St Michael and St George, a special award given by the British King or Queen. John Septimus Roe also named the Gairdner River and Mount Gordon after him.