Stewarts Creek (Ararat River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stewarts Creek |
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Location of Stewarts Creek mouth
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| Other name(s) | Tributary to Ararat River |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina Virginia |
| County | Surry Carroll |
| Cities | Mount Airy |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | confluence of North and South Forks about 4 miles southwest of Pipers Gap, Virginia 2,615 ft (797 m) 36°35′50″N 080°47′13″W / 36.59722°N 80.78694°W |
| River mouth | Ararat River Mount Airy, North Carolina 970 ft (300 m) 36°28′05″N 080°36′15″W / 36.46806°N 80.60417°W |
| Length | 20.24 mi (32.57 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | southeast |
| River system | Yadkin River |
| Basin size | 79.71 square miles (206.4 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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| Bridges | Chestnut Grove Road, I-74, W Imogene Church Road, Beamer Road, NC 89, Red Brush Road, US 601, Old Hwy 601, Park Drive |
Stewarts Creek is a cool stream that flows for about 20.24 mi (32.57 km) (that's over 32 kilometers!). It's like a smaller river that feeds into a bigger one. Stewarts Creek joins the Ararat River in Surry County, North Carolina.
Contents
About Stewarts Creek
Stewarts Creek is known as a "tributary." This means it's a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or river. Think of it as a branch joining a bigger tree trunk. It's also called a "4th order" stream, which is a way scientists classify how many smaller streams flow into it.
Where Does It Start?
Stewarts Creek begins in Carroll County, Virginia. It forms where two smaller streams, the North Fork and South Fork, meet up. This meeting point is about 4 miles southwest of a place called Pipers Gap.
The Creek's Journey
From its start, Stewarts Creek flows mostly towards the southeast. It crosses the border into Surry County, North Carolina. Finally, it reaches the town of Mount Airy and flows into the Ararat River.
Other Names for the Creek
Sometimes, rivers and creeks have more than one name over time. Stewarts Creek has been known by a few different names in the past. These include:
- Bledsoe Creek
- Stewart Creek
- Stuarts Creek
Understanding the Watershed
Every stream and river has a "watershed." A watershed is all the land area where water drains into that specific stream or river. Imagine a giant bowl; all the rain that falls inside that bowl will eventually flow into the creek at the bottom.
Stewarts Creek's Watershed
The Stewarts Creek watershed covers about 79.71 square miles (206.4 km2) of land. That's a pretty big area! On average, this area gets about 49.5 inches of rain each year. A large part of this watershed, about 57%, is covered by forests. These forests are important because they help keep the water clean and provide homes for wildlife.
