Robe River (Australia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robe River |
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| Country | Australia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Hamersley Range 477 metres (1,565 ft) |
| River mouth | Indian Ocean sea level |
| Length | 276 kilometres (171 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 3,350 square kilometres (1,293 sq mi) |
The Robe River is an important river located in a part of Western Australia called the Pilbara region. It's a special kind of river that doesn't always have water flowing in it, but it's still very important for the animals that live there.
Contents
Discovering the Robe River
Where Does the Robe River Start and End?
The Robe River begins in the Hamersley Range, a mountain area. It starts near a place called Marana Spring. From there, it flows mostly towards the northwest.
The river passes by the Robe River-Deepdale mine. It then crosses the main road called the North West Coastal Highway near the turnoff for Pannawonica. Finally, the Robe River empties into the Indian Ocean near a spot called Robe Point.
What Are Tributaries?
A river often has smaller streams or rivers that flow into it. These are called tributaries. The Robe River has two main tributaries: Mungarathoona Creek and Kumina Creek. They add their water to the Robe River as it makes its way to the ocean.
Water Flow and Wildlife
The Robe River is an ephemeral river. This means it doesn't always have water flowing along its whole length. Instead, it often dries up in parts during the dry season.
However, even when it's dry, there are usually some permanent pools of water. These pools are very important! They act as safe places, or refugia, for native animals. Many creatures rely on these pools to survive through the dry months until the rains return.
When the River Floods
Even though the Robe River can dry up, it also experiences big floods sometimes. This happens after very heavy rainfall, often from tropical cyclones.
For example, in 2004, after a big storm called Cyclone Monty, the river flooded completely. The town of Pannawonica was cut off, meaning people couldn't get in or out. Some people even had to be rescued from the roof of the Yarraloola homestead because of the high water!
Again in 2009, after a lot of rain, the river burst its banks. This caused roads and railway lines to be covered in water. Yarraloola Station had to be evacuated, and the railway network used by the Rio Tinto mining company was stopped because of the floodwaters.
