RIVERS/ STREAMS WEST FALKLAND
The Falklands has a number of small rivers of some length, the longest being San Carlos River, but none are particulary long due to the geography and geology of the islands. They tend to end in creeks or large inlets. There are numerous streams. On the East, streams are very often termed Arroyo, the Spanish connection from when gauchos worked the wild cattle. On West Falklands they are mostly a 'Stream'.
West Falkland has 6 main rivers and numerous streams.
- Warrah River named for the extinct Falklands Fox which favoured the area, is the longest West Falklands river at around 18 miles (28.9km) and fed is from a complex of streams originating on the northern slopes of Mount Maria and Mount Robinson. It's estuary exits on the northern coast running into River Harbour near Purvis and River Island. A good river for fishing brown trout. In 1893 John Crook Smith constructed a bridge over the Warrah River, near Green Hill and a little to the west of the quick sands in the river. It measured 168 ft from bank to bank, was 5 ft wide and stood 12 ft above the river bed resting on 6 piers. When the river flooded 3 ft above the bridge on Good Friday 1893 no damage occured.
- Chartres River about 16 miles (25.7 km) with its origins in the Hornby Mountains and running out through Chartres estuary to King George Bay. A good river for brown trout.
- Blackburn River a short river, less than 5 miles (8km) long, sourcing from streams in the Mount Edgworth area and running out into Byron Sound.
- Teal River a short river, less than 5 miles (8km) long sourced from streams on the southern side of Mount Adam and emptying into Christmas Harbour and King George Bay.
- Doyle River, short, less than 5 miles (8km) long rises from a network of streams between Mount Philomel and Mount Sulivan and exits into Port Philomel.
- Dean's River, short, less than 5 miles (8km) long, rises from the slopes of the complex of the mountains Alice, Young and Dean just northeast of Port Stephens, and runs out into Hoste Inlet and Port Stephens.
Notable West Falklands streams
- Arroyo Malo, Fox Bay West draining from Fox Bay Mountain, and the flats towards Lake Sullivan and exiting at Malo Creek into Port Edgar. The FI magazine 1894 records 'a bridge for the passage of flocks has been constructed over the Arroya Malo, Fox Bay W, 36 yards long and 12 feet wide'. By the 1940s it was in a bad state of repair and under the instruction of the then manager Tom Gilruth, a replacement was built in 1944, a mile upstream from the original. (Joan Spruce).
- Bull Stream a small stream at Fox Bay East Home Flock set amongst all the ponds, before roads a difficult and notorious stream to cross with landrovers and livestock. Scene of many 'boggings' before the new roads.
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Sources include: The Falkland Islands- Ian J Strange,
Photographic credits: : Header: Derek Lee, others Jean Sinclair, Robert Maddocks, Derek Lee, Hurst, Joan Porter,
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