Re: What is difference between a creek and river?

This is really a dictionary question rather than a science question. It is 
complicated by the fact that the word "creek" has very different meanings in 
different English dialects. Neither "river" nor "creek" is used by scientists as 
a technical word with a precisely defined meaning.

In British English, "creek" means a small and narrow inlet of the sea, possibly a 
sunken river valley. In Australian, it means (roughly) a small river. In British 
English, the words "brook" or "stream" would be used instead. The best reference 
for North American usage (with which I am much less familiar) is Webster OnLine.

From the way you seem to be using the word, I gather that your sense is fairly 
similar to the Australian sense. We have some "creeks" that are considerably 
larger, longer, or stronger flowing than some rivers. We have very few of either 
creeks or rivers that flow reliably all year round! I would imagine that you 
would have large "creeks" and small "rivers" in the USA also.

The British usage is retained in a small number of Australian "creeks", most 
notably in the area around Sydney harbour and the central NSW coast (e.g. Coal & 
Candle Creek).