Rays Fork (Richardson Creek tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rays Fork |
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Location of Rays Fork mouth
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| Other name(s) | Tributary to Richardson Creek |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Union |
| City | Wingate |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Flag Branch divide pond about 3 miles southeast of Rock Rest, North Carolina 652 ft (199 m) 34°55′20″N 080°28′11″W / 34.92222°N 80.46972°W |
| River mouth | Richardson Creek about 1 mile northeast of Monroe, North Carolina 445 ft (136 m) 35°00′14″N 080°28′32″W / 35.00389°N 80.47556°W |
| Length | 7.83 mi (12.60 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | northeast then northwest |
| River system | Pee Dee |
| Basin size | 14.64 square miles (37.9 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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| Bridges | Old Pageland Monroe Road, Nash Road, White Store Road, Nash Road, Old Monroe Marshville Road, Witmore Road, Preston Road, US 74, Monroe Ansonville Road, US 74 |
Rays Fork is a small stream located in Union County, North Carolina, in the United States. It flows for about 7.83 miles (12.60 km) before joining a larger stream called Richardson Creek. Rays Fork is considered a "third-order tributary," which means it's a stream that flows into another stream, which then flows into an even larger stream. Think of it like branches on a tree, where smaller branches (first-order) join to form bigger ones (second-order), and so on.
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About Rays Fork
Rays Fork is an important part of the local water system. It helps carry water from the land into larger rivers. This stream is found in the state of North Carolina.
Where Rays Fork Starts
Rays Fork begins in a pond. This pond is located about 3 miles (4.8 km) southeast of a place called Rock Rest, North Carolina. The water here is about 652 feet (199 meters) above sea level.
How Rays Fork Flows
From its starting point, Rays Fork first flows towards the northeast. Then, it makes a curve and changes direction, flowing towards the northwest. It continues this path until it reaches Richardson Creek. This meeting point is about 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of the town of Monroe, North Carolina. At this point, the elevation is about 445 feet (136 meters) above sea level.
What is a Watershed?
The area of land that drains into Rays Fork is called its watershed. Imagine a big bowl where all the rain and melting snow eventually flow into this stream. Rays Fork's watershed covers about 14.64 square miles (37.9 km²).
This area gets a good amount of rain, about 48.6 inches (123 cm) each year. A large part of the watershed, about 38%, is covered by forests. These forests are important because they help keep the water clean and provide homes for many animals.
Bridges Over Rays Fork
Several roads cross over Rays Fork. These bridges help people travel easily across the stream. Some of the roads that have bridges over Rays Fork include Old Pageland Monroe Road, Nash Road, White Store Road, Old Monroe Marshville Road, Witmore Road, Preston Road, and US 74.
