Gascoyne River

At 760km, the Gascoyne River is the longest river in Western Australia. The river rises below Wilgoona Hill in the Robinson Ranges west of the Gibson Desert and it flows into Shark Bay and the Indian Ocean at Carnarvon. It is joined by the 561km long Lyons River about 160km above its mouth which together provide a catchment area of 68,326 km². This area lies entirely to the east of the Kennedy Ranges and extends some 480 km inland.

The river is made up of three branches: The Gascoyne River Middle, is the middle 15 kilometres (9 mi) branch.
The Gascoyne River North, is the Northern 125 kilometres (78 mi) branch, which rises near the Collier Range.
The Gascoyne River Middle, is the Southern 15 kilometres (9 mi) branch, which rises near the Doolgunna homestead.

The Gascoyne has 36 tributaries including Landor River, Thomas River, Thirty one River, Coodewa Creek, Nanular Creek, Cream Creek, Moorayana Creek, Shay Creek, Turner Creek and Jacobs Gully.

It is said to be an upside-down river, as it flows for about 120 days of the year and below the dry river bed for the remainder of the year. It is in effect a huge water storage system with the river's aquifers lying below the desert sands.

It flows through sparsely vegetated countryside which is used mainly for gold-mining and sheep stations. The river flows through many permanent pools that are valuable to both stock and native species. Some of the main pools located along the river include Tibbingoona Pool, Mutherbokin Pool and Mibbley Pool.

The river was named by the explorer Lieutenant George Grey who discovered the river in 1839 and named it "after my friend, Captain J. Gascoyne" (RN).

Translation of "Gascoyne River"

Czech: Gascoyne, French: Gascoyne (fleuve), Dutch: Gascoyne (rivier), Polish: Gascoyne (rzeka), Russian: Гаскойн (река), Ukrainian: Гаскойн (річка).