Yule River
Encyclopedia
The Yule River is an ephemeral
river
in the Pilbara region of Western Australia
.
The headwaters of the river rise in the Abydos Plain between the Chichester Range
and the Mungaroona Range in the Scientific Reserve then flow in a north westerly direction crossing the North West Coastal Highway
approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) South of Port Hedland
then discharging into the Indian Ocean
near Cape Thouin. The river become more braided as it flows northward producing a wide alluvial riverbed, in the latter part of the journey the river bifurcates into the Yule and the Yule River West branch.
The river forms a large estuary at the river mouth with an area of 31.4 square kilometres (12 sq mi)
The river has ten tributaries
, including Cockerega River, West Yule River, Pilbara Creek, Friendly Creek and Coorong Creek.
The river flows through a number of permanent pools, including Kangan Pool and Moolkamudda Pool.
During drought
conditions the river has recorded zero flow for 2 years duration. The river also occasionally flood
s, particularly in 1975 when Cyclone
Joan inundated the catchment area. The flood flow discharge was estimated at 22,000 m3 s-1 at the rivers peak.
The river's water quality
varies depending on the flow, but the average turbidity
of the river water is 187 NTU and the average salinity
is 105 mg/L.
The traditional owners of the area are the Njamal or Nyamal peoples.
The river was visited in 1861 by the explorer and surveyor Francis Gregory
.
Ephemeral
Ephemeral things are transitory, existing only briefly. Typically the term is used to describe objects found in nature, although it can describe a wide range of things....
river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the Pilbara region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
The headwaters of the river rise in the Abydos Plain between the Chichester Range
Chichester Range
The Chichester Range is a range in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.The range rises abruptly from the coastal plain and is composed of rolling hills, escarpments, jagged peaks, gorges and winding tree-lined watercourses....
and the Mungaroona Range in the Scientific Reserve then flow in a north westerly direction crossing the North West Coastal Highway
North West Coastal Highway
North West Coastal Highway in Western Australia is a generally north-south Western Australian highway which links the fishing town of Geraldton with the iron ore port of Port Hedland. It is long, and constructed as a sealed 2-lane single carriageway with overtaking lanes in some parts. It was...
approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) South of Port Hedland
Port Hedland, Western Australia
Port Hedland is the highest tonnage port in Australia and largest town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with a population of approximately 14,000 ....
then discharging into the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
near Cape Thouin. The river become more braided as it flows northward producing a wide alluvial riverbed, in the latter part of the journey the river bifurcates into the Yule and the Yule River West branch.
The river forms a large estuary at the river mouth with an area of 31.4 square kilometres (12 sq mi)
The river has ten tributaries
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
, including Cockerega River, West Yule River, Pilbara Creek, Friendly Creek and Coorong Creek.
The river flows through a number of permanent pools, including Kangan Pool and Moolkamudda Pool.
During drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
conditions the river has recorded zero flow for 2 years duration. The river also occasionally flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
s, particularly in 1975 when Cyclone
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
Joan inundated the catchment area. The flood flow discharge was estimated at 22,000 m3 s-1 at the rivers peak.
The river's water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
varies depending on the flow, but the average turbidity
Turbidity
Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, similar to smoke in air. The measurement of turbidity is a key test of water quality....
of the river water is 187 NTU and the average salinity
Salinity
Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water. It is a general term used to describe the levels of different salts such as sodium chloride, magnesium and calcium sulfates, and bicarbonates...
is 105 mg/L.
The traditional owners of the area are the Njamal or Nyamal peoples.
The river was visited in 1861 by the explorer and surveyor Francis Gregory
Francis Thomas Gregory
Francis Thomas Gregory was an English-born Australian explorer and politician.-Biography:Gregory was born at Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, England, and was the younger brother of the explorer Augustus Gregory...
.