Happy Jacks Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Happy Jacks |
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 Location of the Happy Jacks Creek mouth in New South Wales
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| Other name(s) | Happy Jacks River |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Australian Alps (IBRA), Snowy Mountains |
| LGA | Snowy Valleys |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Australian Alps, Great Dividing Range near The Dip 1,640 m (5,380 ft) 36°0′28″S 148°33′11″E / 36.00778°S 148.55306°E |
| River mouth | Tumut River Happy Jacks Pondage 1,210 m (3,970 ft) 36°0′10″S 148°26′59″E / 36.00278°S 148.44972°E |
| Length | 19 km (12 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Murrumbidgee catchment, Murray–Darling basin |
| Tributaries |
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Happy Jacks Creek is a small but important river in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. It's called a "perennial river" because it flows all year round, even during dry seasons. This creek is part of a much bigger water system called the Murray–Darling basin, which is one of the largest river systems in the world! It eventually joins the Tumut River, which then flows into the Murrumbidgee River.
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Where Happy Jacks Creek Flows
Happy Jacks Creek starts high up in the mountains, near a place called The Dip. This area is inside the beautiful Kosciuszko National Park. The water comes from the Australian Alps, which are part of the huge Great Dividing Range. The Great Dividing Range is a chain of mountains that runs along the eastern side of Australia.
Its Journey
The creek flows for about 19 kilometers (that's about 12 miles). It travels through remote, wild mountain areas. Along its way, two smaller streams, McKeahnies Creek and Tibeaudo Creek, join it.
Joining Other Rivers
Happy Jacks Creek ends its journey by flowing into the Tumut River. This happens at a spot called Happy Jacks Pondage, which is a small lake formed by the Happy Jacks Dam. The Tumut River is also a tributary, meaning it's a smaller river that flows into the larger Murrumbidgee River.
How Far Down It Goes
From where it starts to where it joins the Tumut River, Happy Jacks Creek drops about 428 meters (around 1,404 feet) in height. This means it flows downhill quite a bit! The entire creek stays within the boundaries of Kosciuszko National Park.
People of the Past
The land around Happy Jacks Creek has been home to Aboriginal people for thousands of years. The Walgalu people traditionally lived in this area.
Summer Gatherings
In the summer months, other Aboriginal groups, like the Ngarigo and Ngunawal people, would join the Walgalu. They came together for special feasts. These feasts celebrated the arrival of the Bogong moth, which was an important food source.
