CREEK, a small inlet on a low coast or in the lower reaches of a river at the mouth of a small tributary, also applied to a shallow narrow harbour for small vessels. In America and Australia especially there are many long shallow streams inter mittent in flow and navigable only at their tidal estuaries, yet of great economic importance. They form complete river-systems, and are the only supply of surface water for considerable areas. Though sometimes a mere chain of "water-holes," occasionally they are strongly flooded. Explorers, advancing up such narrow inlets or "creeks," used the same word for the tributaries.