- Denmark River
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Denmark River 
Denmark River South Coast Highway Bridge DenmarkOrigin near Pardelup [1] Mouth Wilson Inlet Basin countries Australia Length 60 kilometres (37 mi) Source elevation 160 metres (525 ft)[2] Avg. discharge 30,584 ML/year [3] Basin area 800 square kilometres (197,684 acres) The Denmark River is located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.
The river rises near Pardelup and meanders in a southerly direction until it flows through Denmark into Wilson Inlet (along with the Hay River).
The river was named after a physician Dr Alexander Denmark of the British Fleet by the rivers discoverer Dr Thomas Braidwood Wilson who explored the area in 1829 while his ship was being repaired in Albany. A surveyor noted in 1833 that the local aborigines, the Noongar, called the river "Koorrabup" that means "Place of the Black Swan".[4]
The river flows through Denmark Dam. The two tributaries of the river are Scotsdale Brook and Cleerillup Creek.
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Heritage Rail Bridge spanning the mouth of the Denmark River
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Denmark River flowing into the Wilson Inlet, taken from the Heritage Rail Bridge
Salinity
The river's water quality has declined as a result of land clearing in the catchment area. It is estimated that 40% of the upper catchment area has been cleared and as a result salinity levels increased from 40 mg/L in the 1940s to when the rivers salinity levels peaked at 1520 mg/L in 1987 at the Mt Lindesay gauging station but now has an average of 700 mg/L and is a target level for the future has been set at 500 mg/L.[5] In 2004 it was announced that salinity levels in the river were decreasing, believed to be the first major river in Australia that had shown a reversal in salinity trends, and that it is possible that the river could provide drinking quality water in the future.[6]
See also
References
- ^ Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of river names". http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+river+names. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
- ^ "Bonzle Digital Atlas - Map of Denmark River, WA". 2008. http://maps.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&cmd=sp&zix=r&p=204689&st=&s=Denmark%20River&pg=1&m=0&c=1&x=116%2E6267&y=%2D34%2E75288&w=73778. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ^ "South Coast Rivercare - Denmark River". 2007. http://www.rivercare.southcoastwa.org.au/infodata/denmarkc/denmarkr/denmark.html. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "Denmark Western Australia - Denmark River". 2007. http://www.denmark.com.au/en/AdvancedSearch/default.htm?pname=Denmark%20River&pid=9001020. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
- ^ "Department of Environment - Denmark River Salinity Statement". 2004. http://portal.environment.wa.gov.au/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/DOE_ADMIN/POSTER_REPOSITORY/WRT30_POSTER.PDF. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
- ^ "ABC News - Salinity drops in WA's Denmark River". 2004. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2004/03/23/1072192.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
Coordinates: 34°57′42.99″S 117°21′40.88″E / 34.9619417°S 117.3613556°E
Categories:- Rivers of Western Australia
- Great Southern (Western Australia)
- Western Australia geography stubs
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