List of watercourses in Western Australia, 0–9 facts for kids

Western Australia is a huge state with many natural waterways! These waterways have official names, and they include different types like rivers, streams, brooks, creeks, gullies, anabranches (which are branches of a river that leave the main flow and rejoin it later), and backwaters (parts of a river where the water moves slowly or not at all).

The names you see on maps and in official records are "gazetted," which means they have been officially approved by the government. This list of watercourses was put together using official records from 1996, and it's been checked against newer information from 2004. So, these are the real, official names of these waterways! Some of these watercourses can be very long, stretching over many kilometres.

What are Watercourses?

Watercourses are natural channels where water flows. They can be big or small, and they play a super important role in the environment. They carry water across the land, helping plants and animals to thrive. They also shape the landscape over time, creating valleys and plains.

Different Types of Waterways

You might hear different names for watercourses, but what do they all mean?

• Rivers are usually large, natural waterways that flow towards an ocean, a lake, or another river.
• Streams are smaller than rivers. They can be tiny trickles or wider flows.
• Brooks are very small streams. Think of them as little waterways, often found in forests or fields.
• Creeks are also small streams, often larger than brooks but smaller than rivers. Many creeks in Western Australia are only full of water after it rains a lot.
• Gullies are channels or ditches formed by flowing water, especially after heavy rain. They are often found on hillsides.
• Anabranches are like side paths a river takes. The water leaves the main river, flows separately for a bit, and then joins the main river again.
• Backwaters are parts of a river or stream where the water doesn't flow much. It can be a quiet, still area, often off to the side of the main current.

Watercourses with Number Names

Many watercourses in Western Australia have names that include numbers, like "2 Mile Creek" or "31 River." These names often tell you how far the watercourse is from a certain point, like a town or a main road. It's a simple way to identify them, especially in areas where there are many similar small waterways.

For example, a "5 Mile Creek" might be located about five miles from a known landmark. This naming system helps people, especially those exploring or working in remote areas, to easily find and refer to specific waterways.

Here are a few examples of these number-named watercourses:

See also

• Geography of Western Australia