Yilgarn River (Western Australia) facts for kids
The Yilgarn River is an important river located in the eastern part of the Wheatbelt region in Western Australia. It's part of a bigger river system called the Avon River catchment. A catchment is like a giant bowl where all the rain and water flow into one main river. The Yilgarn River catchment area is huge, covering about 55,900 square kilometers!
The Yilgarn River meets another river, the Lockhart River, at a special narrow spot called 'Caroline Gap'. This gap is a natural passage between two mountains, Mount Caroline and Mount Stirling.
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Where the Yilgarn River Starts and Flows
The Yilgarn River begins in the eastern part of Western Australia, between the towns of Southern Cross and Coolgardie.
From lakes like Lake Seabrook and Lake Deborah, the river generally flows towards the west. It passes north of Bullfinch, then turns southwest, going past Merredin and south of Kellerberrin. Finally, it joins the Lockhart River at 'Caroline Gap'.
Rivers in the Yilgarn Catchment Area
The Yilgarn River catchment area is a large region where several rivers collect water and drain into the Yilgarn River. These rivers include:
- Yilgarn River: This is the main river, starting southeast of Lake Seabrook and Boorabbin.
- Belka River: This river flows from the southwest of Merredin.
- Mulka River: This river drains water from the area north of Lake Brown.
How Much Water Flows in the River
Scientists studied the Yilgarn River in 2008 and 2009 to measure its water flow. They found that the Yilgarn River's average yearly water flow was about 4 gigaliters (GL). To give you an idea, a gigaliter is a billion liters! For comparison, the Lockhart River had a flow of 13 GL.
The water in the Yilgarn River is quite salty. Its salinity, which is the amount of salt dissolved in the water, is about two-thirds as salty as ocean water.
Studying the River's Health
The Yilgarn River was carefully surveyed and studied in 2008 and 2009. These surveys help experts understand the river's health and how it changes over time.
