Pimpama River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pimpama |
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The Pimpama River at Pimpama, 2014
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 Location of the Pimpama River river mouth in Queensland
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| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | South East Queensland |
| Local government area | City of Gold Coast |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Darlington Range west of Willow Vale 350 m (1,150 ft) 27°49′14″S 153°13′59″E / 27.82056°S 153.23306°E |
| River mouth | Tipplers Passage south of Jacobs Well 0 m (0 ft) 27°47′54″S 153°21′49″E / 27.79833°S 153.36361°E |
| Length | 80 km (50 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Gold Coast Broadwater |
| Basin size | 489 km2 (189 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
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| National park | Southern Moreton Bay Islands National Park |
The Pimpama River is a river in Queensland, Australia. It flows through the Gold Coast area. The land where water drains into the river, called its catchment area, is about 171 square kilometres (66 sq mi).
Contents
River's Journey
The Pimpama River starts in the Darlington Range. This is a hilly area west of Willow Vale in the Gold Coast hinterland. The river flows mostly towards the northeast. Along its way, two smaller streams, called tributaries, join it.
Where the River Ends
The Pimpama River eventually flows into Tipplers Passage. Here, it meets the North Branch of the Coomera River. This area is part of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands National Park. From there, the river joins the Gold Coast Broadwater, which is part of the southern Moreton Bay. Finally, its waters reach the Coral Sea.
River's Neighbors
The Pimpama River's catchment area is surrounded by other river systems. To the north are the Logan and Albert rivers. To the south is the Coomera River. To the east is the Gold Coast Broadwater. The nearby town of Pimpama was named after the river. The Pacific Motorway crosses the river between Kingsholme and Ormeau.
Wildlife and Nature
There is a special conservation area on the southern bank of the river. It is located where the river meets Moreton Bay. This area is next to the Southern Moreton Bay Island National Park. It is also a Ramsar wetland site. Ramsar sites are important places for wetlands around the world.
Wetland Wonders
The Pimpama River wetlands are home to many different plants and animals. They have mangrove trees, saltmarshes, and marine flats. These areas provide safe places for marine species to breed. You can find four different frog species here. The vulnerable false water rat (Xeromys myoides) also lives in these wetlands.
Biodiversity Hotspot
These wetlands are very important for nature. Scientists have recorded 184 different types of native plants here. There are also 134 kinds of vertebrate animals. This includes 13 types of mammals, 108 kinds of birds, and nine types of reptiles.
River's Past
Like many other rivers along the coast, the Pimpama River was used in the 18th century. People used it to transport timber that they had cut down. The rich, fertile land around the river's delta, especially near Jacobs Well, was once used to grow a plant called arrowroot. Today, growing sugarcane is the main type of farming in this area.
A bridge was built over the Pimpama River a long time ago. It was constructed between late 1871 and early 1872 by a person named John Thomas Brigg.
