Horizontal Falls

NASA World Wind satellite image showing the two gorges at the center

The Horizontal Falls, also called Horizontal Waterfalls are a natural phenomenon in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, in Australia.

Despite their name, the Horizontal Falls aren't actual waterfalls but a very fast moving tidal flow between two narrow gorges of the McLarty Range located in Talbot Bay. The freshwater source which feeds the inner gorge is Poulton Creek. (16°22′59″S 123°57′29″E and 16°22′35″S 123°57′34″E) in the Buccaneer Archipelago.

The northern-most and seaward gorge is 20 metres wide and the inner one is 12 metres. Above each of the gorges are natural reservoirs of between 6 and 8 km long which fill and empty with seawater through the gorge openings. As the water passes through the narrow openings, changing tides can give rise to a couple of metres height difference in the sea level between both sides. The direction of the flow reverses with each turning tide. As the tides in the Kimberley can run up to 10 metres, the flow through the 'Horriez' (local name) on a large tide is spectacular.

External links

• http://www.kimberley-australia.com/Kimberley_HorizontalFalls.php