Walcott Inlet facts for kids
Walcott Inlet is a special type of water body called an estuary. It is found in a beautiful part of Western Australia called the Kimberley region. This inlet connects to a larger area of water called Collier Bay, which is part of the huge Indian Ocean. It flows out through a narrow opening known as Yule Entrance.
Contents
How Walcott Inlet Got Its Name
Walcott Inlet was named a long time ago, on June 19, 1865. A person named Trevarton Charles Sholl gave it this name. He named it after Stephen Walcott. Stephen Walcott was a commissioner for a government board that helped people move to new places. Sholl was exploring the area when he named the inlet. He was on an expedition from a settlement called Camden Harbor.
Size and Water Flow
Walcott Inlet is about 66 kilometers (41 miles) long. It is also about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) wide. The total area it covers is around 257 square kilometers (99 square miles).
The inlet's water is mostly controlled by the tides. It has a large catchment area of about 12,732 square kilometers (4,916 square miles). This means a lot of land drains water into the inlet.
Yule Entrance Details
The entrance to the inlet, called Yule Entrance, is about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) long. At its narrowest point, it is only about 450 meters (1,480 feet) wide. The tides here are very strong. The average difference between high and low tide is about 6.52 meters (21.4 feet). Sometimes, the tide can rise as much as 11 meters (36 feet)! These strong tides create fast-moving water and even whirlpools.
Rivers and Nearby Areas
Three large rivers flow into the eastern end of Walcott Inlet. These rivers are the Charnley River, the Calder River, and the Isdell River.
Near the inlet, you can find important natural areas. These include the Charnley River–Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary and the Wilinggin Indigenous Protected Area. These places help protect the local wildlife and environment.
The Story Behind Yule Entrance
The name Yule Entrance probably comes from a missionary named Dr. John S. Yule. He was a Presbyterian missionary who tried to set up a mission station near Walcott Inlet. However, the mission was soon abandoned. The people sent to work there, Robert and Frances Wilson, left because there was not enough fresh water at the site.
