Isaac River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Isaac |
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 Location of Isaac River mouth in Queensland
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| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | Central Queensland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Great Dividing Range below Moranbah North 245 m (804 ft) 21°27′03″S 148°11′40″E / 21.45083°S 148.19444°E |
| River mouth | confluence with the MacKenzie River 85 m (279 ft) 22°52′19″S 149°20′01″E / 22.87194°S 149.33361°E |
| Length | 457 km (284 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Fitzroy River |
| Basin size | 22,364 km2 (8,635 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
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The Isaac River is a river in Central Queensland, Australia. It's like a natural side channel or branch of a larger river system.
Contents
Where the Isaac River Flows
The Isaac River starts in the Great Dividing Range, which is a big mountain range. Its beginning, called the headwaters, is found near the Moranbah North coal mine.
River's Journey
From its start, the river flows mostly towards the southeast. It crosses the Peak Downs Highway close to the town of Moranbah. The river then continues past a place called Iffley.
Near Leichhardt Downs, the river turns east. Here, it splits into many smaller, braided channels. After this, it turns southeast again. It flows past the eastern side of Junee State Forest. Finally, the Isaac River joins the Mackenzie River, becoming one of its smaller rivers, or tributaries.
River's Size
The area of land where all the water drains into the Isaac River is called its catchment area. This area is very large, covering about 22,364 square kilometers. A part of this area, about 474 square kilometers, is made up of riverine wetlands. These are special areas of land that are often wet, like swamps or marshes, found along the river.
History of the Isaac River
The land around the Isaac River has a rich history. It is part of the traditional country of the Yetimarala people.
Yetimarala Language
The Yetimarala language is an Aboriginal language from Central Queensland. It was also known by other names like Jetimarala or Bayali. The Yetimarala people lived in areas including the Boomer Range, Broadsound Range, and along the Fitzroy River, Mackenzie River, and the Isaac River.
How the River Got its Name
The Isaac River was named by an explorer called Ludwig Leichhardt. He discovered the river during his journey in 1845. Leichhardt was exploring the area on his way to Port Essington, which is now Darwin.
He named the river after his friend, Frederick Nevil Isaac. Frederick Isaac was a pastoralist, which means he owned and managed large farms with livestock like sheep or cattle. He owned a big property called Gowrie Station. Frederick Isaac was a strong supporter of Leichhardt's expeditions.
