Lyla Lindsey
Australia is known for its arid landscapes, and its lakes are often saline and endorheic. Natural freshwater lakes are rare due to the absence of glacial and tectonic activity. However, there are several man-made lakes in Australia, with Lake Argyle in Western Australia being the largest by volume. Lake Argyle is part of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme and is recognised as an important wetland area under the Ramsar Convention. It has a surface area of about 1,000 square kilometres and a storage capacity of 10,763 gigalitres. Another significant man-made lake is Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, created by damming the Molonglo River.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Lake Argyle |
| Location | East Kimberley, Western Australia |
| Nearest town | Kununurra |
| River | Ord River |
| Creeks | Bow River and many other smaller creeks |
| Surface area | 1,000 square kilometres |
| Storage capacity | 10,763 gigalitres |
| Usual storage volume | 5,797 gigalitres |
| Maximum flood level storage capacity | 35,000 gigalitres |
| Maximum flood level surface area | 2,072 square kilometres |
| Bird species | 12 species considered internationally significant, including magpie geese, wandering whistling-ducks, green pygmy-geese, Pacific black ducks, hardheads, black-necked storks, white-headed stilts, red-capped plovers, Oriental plovers, black-fronted dotterels, long-toed stints, and sharp-tailed sandpipers |
| Bird species (large-bodied) | Australian pelican, black swan, eastern great egret, royal spoonbill, osprey, and wedge-tailed eagle |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Lake Argyle: Australia's largest man-made reservoir
Australia is a country of desert ecosystems and coastal regions, and most of its lakes are saline. Natural freshwater lakes are rare in Australia due to the absence of glacial and tectonic activity. Many of the country's lakes are man-made, created by damming rivers for water storage and other purposes.
Lake Argyle is Western Australia's largest and Australia's second-largest freshwater man-made reservoir by volume. The reservoir is part of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme and is located near the East Kimberley town of Kununurra. The lake flooded large parts of the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley on the Kimberley Plateau about 80 kilometres inland from the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, close to the border with the Northern Territory. The primary inflow is the Ord River, and the Bow River and many other smaller creeks also flow into the dam.
The lake has a surface area of about 1,000 square kilometres (390 sq mi). Its usual storage volume is 5,797 gigalitres (2.047×10¹¹ cu ft), making it the largest reservoir in Australia. At maximum flood level, it would hold 35,000 gigalitres (1.2×10¹² cu ft) of water and cover a surface area of 2,072 square kilometres (800 sq mi).
Lake Argyle and Lake Kununurra were listed in 1990 as Ramsar Convention protected wetlands. The lake is now home to 26 species of native fish and a population of freshwater crocodiles currently estimated at some 25,000. It has also been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports about 150,000 waterbirds with twelve species being represented in large enough numbers to be considered internationally significant.
China's Ban on Australian Coal: The Timeline
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Lake Burley Griffin: a man-made reservoir in Canberra
Australia is a country known for its arid landscapes, deserts, and coastal regions. As a result, most of its lakes are saline, and natural freshwater lakes are rare. Many of the country's lakes are man-made, created by damming rivers to meet water and power supply needs.
One such man-made lake is Lake Burley Griffin, located in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The lake was created by damming the Molonglo River with the 319-metre-long Scrivener Dam. It is named after Walter Burley Griffin, the American architect who designed the city of Canberra. The lake is a prominent feature of the city and is often used for recreational activities such as boating, sailing, and kayaking. It is also a popular spot for picnics and walking, with many parks, gardens, and monuments surrounding it.
The construction of Lake Burley Griffin was a significant project in the development of Canberra. The lake was designed to be the centrepiece of the city and to provide a visual focal point for the parliamentary buildings and other important landmarks. The project faced several challenges, including financial constraints and the need to relocate existing infrastructure. The final design was a result of a collaboration between Walter Burley Griffin and his wife, Marion Mahony Griffin, who was also an architect.
The lake covers an area of 664 hectares and has a water storage capacity of approximately 33 million cubic metres. It is surrounded by 40 kilometres of shoreline and features several islands, including Springbank Island, Aspen Island, and Spinnaker Island. The lake is also home to a diverse range of wildlife, including birds, fish, and waterbirds such as black swans.
Lake Burley Griffin is an important part of Canberra's history and culture, and it plays a significant role in the city's landscape and recreational activities. It is a popular destination for both locals and tourists, offering a peaceful escape from the bustling city life. The lake also hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, such as the Lake Burley Griffin Regatta and the Enlighten Festival, further contributing to its cultural significance.
Wisdom Teeth Recovery: Australian Soft Food Diet Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Lake Corangamite: a saline lake in Victoria
Australia is a country known for its arid landscapes and coastal regions. Most of its lakes are saline, and/or endorheic, with water levels that fluctuate with the seasons.
One of these lakes is Lake Corangamite, a hypersaline endorheic lake located near Colac in the Lakes and Craters region of the Victorian Volcanic Plains of southwest Victoria. Covering an area of 209 square kilometres (or 230 square kilometres according to another source), with a circumference of 150 kilometres, it is considered the largest permanent saline lake in Australia. The lake forms part of the Ramsar-listed Western District Lakes wetland site, which has been designated as "wetlands of international importance".
The Aboriginal name for the lake is Kronimite, and it is surrounded to the south and east by rocky outcrops known locally as the stony rises, formed by lava flows from Mount Porndon and Mount Warrion. The Red Rock volcanic complex overlooks the southeast shore at Alvie. The lake's salinity levels have increased dramatically as water levels have dropped in recent decades, rising to at least four times that of seawater.
Lake Corangamite is fed by Pirron Yaloak Creek, which flows from the Otway plains to the south, the Woady Yaloak River, which flows from the Victorian Midlands to the north, and Salt Creek, which flows from the plains to the northwest. The Woady Yaloak was diverted away from the lake in the 1950s in response to flooding, and it is possible that the lake will dry out completely.
The site is also notable for the discovery of a crashed World War II RAAF Wirraway plane in 2005, which was exposed by receding water levels.
The Cashless Future: Australia's Bold Move
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Lake Gordon: an artificial reservoir in Tasmania
Australia has a large number of man-made lakes and reservoirs due to the country's arid climate and the need for water management. One of the most significant water management projects is the Snowy Mountains scheme, which includes 16 large dams. Another significant irrigation scheme is Lake Argyle on the Ord River in Western Australia.
Lake Gordon, in Tasmania, is an artificial reservoir created by the damming of the Gordon River by the 140-metre-high Gordon Dam. It is part of the larger combined Lake Gordon/Lake Pedder system, which consists of two dams connected by a canal. This system is the largest reservoir in Australia by volume, with a usual storage volume of 5,797 gigalitres.
The lake is located on the central plateau of Tasmania, a region that has a large number of natural freshwater lakes due to glaciation. Many of these lakes have been enlarged or modified by hydroelectric developments. Lake Gordon is an example of a man-made lake that serves the purpose of water storage and hydroelectric power generation.
The construction of the Gordon Dam was completed in the 1970s, and the lake filled to capacity soon after. The dam and lake are named after the Gordon River, which was named by John Franklin, a European explorer, in 1835. The river and lake hold cultural significance for the indigenous people of Tasmania and are known by different names in their traditions.
Lake Gordon and the surrounding area showcase the impact of human intervention on natural landscapes. The lake's creation has altered the region's ecology and hydrology, and it now serves as a source of water and electricity for the region. The lake is also a popular tourist destination, offering scenic views and recreational activities such as boating and fishing.
Where is Wikileaks' Australian Founder Hiding?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Snowy Mountains Scheme: a water management project
Australia is not well-endowed with natural lakes containing plentiful supplies of water. Both rainfall and runoff can be highly variable across the continent, and many rivers have large reservoirs constructed on them to meet water and power supply needs. Natural freshwater lakes in Australia are rare due to the general absence of glacial and tectonic activity. The lakes that do exist are mostly saline and/or endorheic, with water levels that fluctuate with the seasons.
The largest man-made lake in Australia is Lake Argyle, which is part of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme in Western Australia. The lake has a surface area of about 1,000 square kilometres (390 sq mi) and a storage capacity of 10,763 gigalitres (3.801×10¹¹ cu ft). It is Australia's second-largest freshwater man-made reservoir by volume, recognised as an important wetland area under the Ramsar Convention.
The most significant water management project in Australia is the Snowy Mountains Scheme, which includes 16 large dams. The scheme diverts water from the Snowy and Eucumbene Rivers on the east of the Great Dividing Range through the Snowy Mountains to the Murray and Murrumbidgee River systems on the western side of the range. The water is used for electricity generation and irrigation farming in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. The project was undertaken by the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority and took 25 years to complete.
Other significant man-made lakes in Australia include Lake Burley Griffin, a reservoir in Canberra created by damming the Molonglo River; Lake Corangamite, a hypersaline lake in Victoria that is considered a wetland of international importance; and Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, an endorheic lake in South Australia that is the largest lake in the country when filled.
Avoiding Jet Lag on Your Flight to Australia
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Lake Argyle in Western Australia is the country's largest man-made lake by volume. It has a usual storage volume of 5,797 gigalitres and a maximum capacity of 10,763 gigalitres.
Lake Argyle is located near the East Kimberley town of Kununurra, about 80 kilometres inland from the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf.
The primary inflow for Lake Argyle is the Ord River, with additional inflows from the Bow River and other smaller creeks.
Lake Argyle normally has a surface area of about 1,000 square kilometres, but at maximum flood level, it would cover 2,072 square kilometres.
