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Pike River Conservation Park facts for kids

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Pike River Conservation Park
South Australia
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Pike River Conservation Park is located in South Australia
Pike River Conservation Park
Pike River Conservation Park
Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city Paringa
Established 1 February 1979 (1979-02-01)
Area 2.88 km2 (1.1 sq mi)
Managing authorities Department for Environment and Water
See also Protected areas of South Australia

Pike River Conservation Park is a special protected area in the Australian state of South Australia. It's located in a place called Mundic Creek. This park is about 215 kilometers (134 miles) northeast of Adelaide, the state capital. It's also very close to the town of Paringa, just 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) south.

Discovering Pike River Conservation Park

Pike River Conservation Park is a place where nature is kept safe. It was created on February 1, 1979. This was done under a law called the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The park gets its name from Pike River, a stream that flows through its eastern side.

Where is it Located?

The park is made up of government-owned land. This land is known as section 66 in an area called the Hundred of Paringa. Later, on December 10, 2009, more land was added to the park. This new part was section 84 of the Hundred of Paringa, which used to be called the Mundic Forest Reserve. The park is at the northern end of Mundic Creek. It also borders the Sturt Highway on its eastern side. As of 2016, the park covers an area of 2.88 square kilometers (1.11 square miles).

Why is it Protected?

In 1980, experts described the park as very important. It protects a part of a wetland area that always has water. This area is on the River Murray flood plain. Wetlands are super important because they provide a valuable home for water birds. These birds use the park for feeding and raising their young. The park is classified as an IUCN Category III protected area. This means it's recognized for protecting natural features.

Plants and Animals You Might See

The park has different types of plants. You can find open woodlands with tall trees like River Red Gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and Black Box trees (Eucalyptus largiflorens). Under these trees, there are scattered plants like Muehlenbeckia cunninghamii.

Other areas have low shrubs like Atriplex vesicaria and Arthrocnemum species. Along the edges of lagoons, you'll see tall reeds like Typha species and Phragmites australis. There's also a small area above the flood plain with different trees. These include Eucalyptus oleosa and Myoporum platycarpum.

The park is only a small part of a much larger water system. Sadly, some of the big River Red Gums are no longer alive. Also, some areas have plants that are not native to Australia, which can sometimes cause problems for the local plants.

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