Yule River

Last updated

Yule River
Yule River
Location
Country Australia
Physical characteristics
Source 
  location Chichester Range
  elevation451 m (1,480 ft) [1]
Mouth  
  location
Indian Ocean
  elevation
sea level
Length190 km (118 mi)
Basin size8,430 km2 (3,255 sq mi) [2]
Discharge 
  average223 GL/a (7.1 m3/s; 250 cu ft/s)

The Yule River is an ephemeral river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It was named on 10 August 1861 by the surveyor and explorer Frank Gregory while on expedition in the area, after Thomas Newte Yule, at times farmer of Toodyay, winemaker, Acting Colonial Secretary and Magistrate. [3]

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 becomes 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 branches. The river forms a large estuary at the river mouth with an area of 31.4 square kilometres (12 sq mi). [4]

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 two years duration. The river also occasionally floods, particularly in 1975 when Cyclone Joan inundated the catchment area. The flood flow discharge was estimated at 22,000 cubic metres per second (780,000 cu ft/s) at the river's 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 milligrams per litre (3.8×10−6 lb/cu in).

The traditional owners of the area are the Indjibandi, Njamal or Nyamal peoples. [5]

Prehistoric petroglyphs were found along rock-faces in the upper Yule River in the 1950s. [6]

Borefield

The Yule River Borefield has been in operation as one of the sources supplying the town of Port Hedland with drinking water. [7]

Related Research Articles

The Pilbara is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; and its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore. It is also a global biodiversity hotspot for subterranean fauna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Hedland, Western Australia</span> Town in Western Australia

Port Hedland is the second largest town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with an urban population of 15,298 as of the 2021 census, including the satellite town of South Hedland, 18 kilometres (11 mi) away. It is also the site of the highest tonnage port in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Northern Highway</span> Highway in Western Australia

Great Northern Highway is an Australian highway that links Western Australia's capital city Perth with its northernmost port, Wyndham. With a length of almost 3,200 kilometres (2,000 mi), it is the longest highway in Australia, with the majority included as part of the Perth Darwin National Highway. The highway, which travels through remote areas of the state, is constructed as a sealed, predominantly two-lane single carriageway, but with some single-lane bridges in the Kimberley. Economically, it provides vital access through the Wheatbelt and Mid West to the resource-rich regions of the Pilbara and Kimberley. In these areas, the key industries of mining, agriculture and pastoral stations, and tourism are all dependent on the highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North West Coastal Highway</span> Highway in Western Australia

North West Coastal Highway is a generally north-south Western Australian highway which links the coastal city of Geraldton with the town of Port Hedland. The 1,300-kilometre-long (808 mi) road, constructed as a sealed two-lane single carriageway, travels through remote and largely arid landscapes. Carnarvon is the only large settlement on the highway, and is an oasis within the harsh surrounding environment. The entire highway is allocated National Route 1, part of Australia's Highway 1, and parts of the highway are included in tourist routes Batavia Coast Tourist Way and Cossack Tourist Way. Economically, North West Coastal Highway is an important link to the Mid West, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions, supporting the agricultural, pastoral, fishing, and tourism industries, as well as mining and offshore oil and gas production.

The Greenough River is a river in the Mid West region of Western Australia.

The De Grey River is a river located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It was named on 16 August 1861 by the explorer and surveyor Francis Gregory after Thomas de Grey, 2nd Earl de Grey, who was at the time the president of the Royal Geographical Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fortescue River</span> River in the Pilbara, Western Australia

The Fortescue River is an ephemeral river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is the third longest river in the state.

The Beasley River is a river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robe River (Australia)</span> River in Australia

Robe River is a river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harding River</span> River in Western Australia

The Harding River, known as the Ngurin in Ngarluma language, is a river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It was named on 31 July 1861 by the surveyor and explorer Francis Gregory while on expedition in the area, after one of the volunteer members of his expedition, John Harding. The river continues to be known as the Ngurin by traditional owners and local Aboriginal people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maitland River (Western Australia)</span> River in Western Australia

The Maitland River is a river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakover River</span> River in Western Australia

The Oakover River is a river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The Sherlock River is a river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It was named on 11 July 1861 by the surveyor and explorer Frank Gregory while on expedition in the area.

The Cane River is a river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. With its headwaters rising west of the Hamersley Range, the river flows in a north-westerly direction through the Cane River Conservation Park and over the Onslow Coastal Plain, and eventually discharges into the Indian Ocean near Yardie Landing approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi) north-east of Onslow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turner River</span> River in Western Australia

The Turner River is a river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The Shaw River is an ephemeral river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It was named by explorer F.T. Gregory on 21 August 1861 after Norton Shaw, Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chichester Range</span> Mountain range in Western Australia

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.

The George River is a river in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The river was named on 16 July 1861 by the surveyor and explorer Frank Gregory, who was conducting an expedition in the area. It is not known after whom he named the river.

The Limmen Bight River is a river in the Northern Territory, Australia.

The Burrum River is a river in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia.

References

  1. "Bonzle Digital Atlas – Map of Yule River". 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  2. "Surface Hydrology of the Pilbara Region Summary" (PDF). 2000. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  3. Gregory, Augustus Charles; Gregory, Francis Thomas (1884). Journals of Australian Explorations. Brisbane: James C. Beal, Government Printer. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  4. "Estuary Assessment Framework for Non-Pristine Estuaries - Estuary 676 - Yule river" (PDF). 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  5. "Ausanthrop - Australian Aboriginal tribal database". 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
  6. Worms, Ernest Alfred (1954), Prehistoric petroglyphs of the Upper Yule River, North West Australia , retrieved 13 May 2013
  7. Braimbridge, Mike; Western Australia. Dept. of Water (2010), Yule river : ecological values and issues, Department of Water, ISBN   978-1-921789-35-9

20°24′16″S118°11′39″E / 20.40444°S 118.19417°E / -20.40444; 118.19417