Strzelecki Creek

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date= September 2016}} {{Infobox river | name = Strzelecki | native_name = | native_name_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = [[Paweł Strzelecki|Paul Edmund de Strzelecki]]  | image = Lake eyre basin map.png | image_size = | image_caption = A map of the [[Lake Eyre Basin]] showing the location of Strzelecki Creek | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Australia South Australia | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= Location of the [[mouth (river)|river mouth]] in [[South Australia]]  | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = [[Australia]] | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = [[South Australia]] | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = [[Far North (South Australia)|Far North]] | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = Municipality | subdivision_name5 = [[unincorporated area]]  | length = {{convert|200|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max =  | source1 = [[Cooper Creek]] | source1_location = south of [[Innamincka, South Australia|Innamincka]] | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = {{convert|52|m|abbr=on}} | mouth = [[Lake Blanche]] | mouth_location = west of Montecollina | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|-29.364260|139.830150|region:AU-SA|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|1|m|abbr=on}} | progression = | river_system = [[Lake Eyre Basin]] | basin_size = | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = [[protected area]]s | custom_data = [[Strzelecki Regional Reserve]] | extra = <ref name=bonzle>{{cite web |url=http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=211367&cmd=sp |title=Map of Strzelecki Creek, SA |work=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia |date= |access-date=23 March 2017 }}</ref> }} The '''Strzelecki Creek''', part of the [[Lake Eyre basin]], is an [[ephemeral river|ephemeral watercourse]] located in the Australian state of [[South Australia]].

==Course and features== The Strzelecki is a [[distributary]] of [[Cooper Creek]] and branches off near the town of [[Innamincka, South Australia|Innamincka]] and flows in a southerly direction thought the [[Strzelecki Desert]] for about {{convert|200|km}} towards [[Lake Blanche]]. While being feed by the Cooper Creek, it does have its own catchment and can flow independently after "heavy localised storms". Flows on "exceptional" occasions can reach Lakes Blanche, [[Lake Callabonna|Callabonna]], [[Lake Frome|Frome]] and [[Lake Gregory (South Australia)|Gregory]]. Its watercourse is lined by trees, bordered by "large parallel sand ridges" and includes "a series of waterholes".<ref name=PLB/><ref name=Morton>{{Citation | author1=Morton, S. R | author2=Barker, R. D. (Robin Dale), 1940- | author3=Doherty, M. D | author4=CSIRO. Division of Wildlife and Ecology | author5=Australia. World Heritage Unit | title=Natural heritage values of the Lake Eyre Basin in South Australia : world heritage assessment | date=1995 | publisher=CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology | url= http://www.lakeeyrebasin.gov.au/sitecollectionimages/resources/587fdbe9-9dfd-41bb-8690-b360099f3c31/files/leb-world-heritage-values-1995.pdf| accessdate=26 September 2016|page=42|archive-date=16 March 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180316235147/http://www.lakeeyrebasin.gov.au/sitecollectionimages/resources/587fdbe9-9dfd-41bb-8690-b360099f3c31/files/leb-world-heritage-values-1995.pdf }}</ref><ref name=SRR/>

Parts of the creek system are within the protected area known as the [[Strzelecki Regional Reserve]].{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} The creek system is also within the boundaries of the non-statutory [[Strzelecki Desert Lakes Important Bird Area]].<ref name=bli>{{cite web|title=Important Bird Areas factsheet: Strzelecki Desert Lakes|url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/strzelecki-desert-lakes-iba-australia |publisher=BirdLife International|accessdate=31 March 2017|date=2017}}</ref> The former pastoral lease property [[Tinga Tingana]] straddled the creek which also passes through [[Blanchewater Station]].{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

==Etymology== It was named by the British explorer, [[Charles Sturt]] on 18 August 1845 after [[Paweł Strzelecki|Paul Edmund de Strzelecki]], the Polish scientist and explorer.<ref name=PLB>{{cite web|title=Search result for " Strzelecki Creek (Stream) (Record no. SA0049990) with the following layers selected - "Suburbs and Localities" and "Place names (gazetteer)" |url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/# |work=Property Location Browser|publisher=Government of South Australia |accessdate=26 September 2016}}</ref><ref name=SRR>{{Citation | author1=South Australia. Department for Environment and Heritage | title=A review of Lake Frome and Strzelecki Regional Reserves, 1991-2001 | date=2002 | publisher=Dept. for Environment and Heritage | isbn=978-0-7590-1038-3 |url= http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/sharedassets/public/corporate/about_us/strzelecki_reserve.pdf |pages=11 and 15 }}</ref> Explorer [[Augustus Charles Gregory]] and his party found that following Strzelecki Creek proved to be the best way to travel through the interior from the Pacific to the Southern Ocean.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105141|title=Strzelecki Creek National Heritage Place, Strzelecki Tk, Innamincka, SA, Australia |year=2014|accessdate=26 August 2014|publisher=Australian Heritage Database}}</ref>

==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|South Australia|Water|Environment}}}} *{{Section link|List of rivers of Australia|South Australia}}

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Rivers of South Australia]] [[Category:Lake Eyre basin]] [[Category:Far North (South Australia)]]