Cane River (Western Australia)

Cane River
Map
Location
CountryAustralia
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationHamersley Range
 • elevation382 m (1,253 ft)[2]
Mouth 
 • location
Indian Ocean
 • elevation
sea level
Length168 km (104 mi)[1]
Basin size2,290 km2 (884 sq mi)[3]
Discharge 
 • average62 GL/a (69 cu ft/s)

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.

The river is considered to be dendritic with no major tributaries; numerous wells exist within the catchment area. The river has one large permanent pool, Jabaddar Pool, which is located downstream from the North West Coastal Highway.

The mouth of the river is a largely unmodified estuary that works as a function of tidal energy. The estuary covers a total area of 18 square kilometres (7 sq mi) that is mostly saltmarsh but with a small colony of mangroves.[4]

In 1866 explorer Harry Venn, who later was a member of the Forrest Ministry, named the river after Charles Cane, a member of Venn's expedition.

The waters have an average salinity of 90 milligrams per litre (3.3×10−6 lb/cu in) and turbidity of 335 NTU.

Cane River has a large delta that is situated within the boundaries of Peedamulla Station. The river delta had become degraded as a result overgrazing particularly prior to 1970 when the station was running 100,000 head of sheep.[5]

References

  1. ^ "History of river names – C". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Bonzle Digital Atlas – Map of Cane River". 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
  3. ^ "Surface Hdrology of the Pilbara Region" (PDF). 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
  4. ^ "Estuary Assessment Framework for Non-Pristine Estuaries - Estuary 661 -Cane River". 2000. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
  5. ^ T. Wiley; R Glover; P. Russell; T. Parker; D. Parker; M. Clinch; G. Woolston (2015). "Cattle, carbon, critters and culture – building a new rangelands" (PDF). Retrieved 17 December 2015.

21°32′54″S 115°22′45″E / 21.54833°S 115.37917°E / -21.54833; 115.37917