Lockhart River (Queensland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lockhart |
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Quintell Beach, Lockhart River
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 Location of Lockhart river mouth in Queensland
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| Country | Australia |
| Territory | Queensland |
| Region | Far North Queensland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Chester Peak Chester Range, Cape York Peninsula, Australia 46 m (151 ft) |
| River mouth | Lloyd Bay Coral Sea, Australia 0 m (0 ft) 12°56′59″S 143°23′37″E / 12.94972°S 143.39361°E |
| Length | 36 km (22 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 2,883 km2 (1,113 sq mi) |
The Lockhart River is an important waterway located in Queensland, Australia. It flows through the beautiful Cape York Peninsula and eventually reaches the Coral Sea. This river is named after Hugh Lockhart, a friend of the explorer Robert Logan Jack.
Contents
Discovering the Lockhart River
The Lockhart River is found in the northern part of Queensland, Australia. It's a relatively short river, stretching about 36 kilometers (22 miles) long. Despite its length, it plays a key role in the local environment.
Where Does the River Start and End?
The journey of the Lockhart River begins high up in the Chester Range. This area is part of the larger Great Dividing Range, a chain of mountains and hills in Australia. The river's starting point is near a place called Chester Peak.
From its source, the river flows generally northwards. It passes by other ranges like High Range and Heming Range. Finally, the Lockhart River empties into Lloyd Bay, which is part of the vast Coral Sea.
What Is a Catchment Area?
Every river has a "catchment area," which is all the land where water flows into that river. Think of it like a giant funnel that collects rainfall and directs it into the river. The Lockhart River's catchment area covers a large space of about 2,883 square kilometers (1,113 square miles).
A special part of this area includes "estuarine wetlands." These are unique places where the river's fresh water mixes with the salty water from the sea. About 134 square kilometers (52 square miles) of the Lockhart River's catchment are these important wetlands.
How Did the River Get Its Name?
The Lockhart River was officially named in 1880. An explorer named Robert Logan Jack was exploring this region of Australia. He decided to name the river after his good friend, Hugh Lockhart. It's common for explorers to name new discoveries after people they know or admire.
