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Rivers, Lakes and Waterways of Australia |
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Australia does not have many natural lakes, especially those that contain a
plentiful supplies of water. Rainfall and runoff can be highly variable across
the continent, and so many
of our rivers have had dams built, creating large reservoirs, to meet the water and power supply needs
of the communities across Australia.
Water supply and shortages have always been an issue for many farmers since
the arrival of Europeans to this continent. Now in these times of global warming
and droughts, water shortages have become an everyday issue for entire
communities located in towns and cities. Faced with varying levels of water
restriction, the existing dams and reservoirs are having problems with providing
enough water to cope with current demands, let alone the future needs. Changes
to the way we use and recycle water provide part of the solution. Many pray for
a break in the drought, and as we rely on mother nature, her answer can often
come in the extreme, from drought to flood.
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As well as providing the water needs for our communities, lakes and dams
attract numerous native wildlife. In addition, these bodies of water are often
the sites for recreational activities. Whether it is fishing, swimming, boating,
bird-watching or any number of other activities, the lakes and dams are a
significant drawcard for tourism.
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These lakes are the largest bodies of water, whether natural or
constructed, by State/Territory: |
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| State/Territory |
Lake |
Area
(km2) |
| South Australia |
Lake Eyre
(salt) |
9,500 |
| Western Australia |
Lake Mackay |
3,494 |
| Northern Territory |
Lake
Amadeus (salt) |
1,032 |
| New South Wales |
Lake
Garnpung |
542 |
| Tasmania |
Lake Gordon |
270 |
| Queensland |
Lake
Dalrymple |
220 |
| Victoria |
Lake
Corangamite |
209 |
| Australian Capitol
Territory |
Lake Burley
Griffin |
7.2 |
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Source: Geoscience
Australia: Largest
Lakes and Reservoirs
Following are the largest constructed reservoirs by
State/Territory:
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| State/Territory |
Dam |
Reservoir |
Capacity
(million m3) |
| Tasmania |
Gordon |
Lake Gordon |
12,450 |
| Western
Australia |
Ord River |
Lake Argyle |
10,760 |
| New South
Wales |
Eucumbene |
Lake Eucumbene |
4,798 |
| Victoria |
Dartmouth |
- |
4,000 |
| Queensland |
Burdekin Falls |
Lake Dalrymple |
1,860 |
| Northern
Territory |
Darwin River |
- |
259 |
| Australian
Capital Territory |
Corin |
- |
75.5 |
| South
Australia |
Mount Bold |
Mount Bold |
45.9 |
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Source: Geoscience
Australia: Largest
Lakes and Reservoirs
Australia has a number of salt lakes. These lakes are normally
dry, appearing as glittering sheets of salt that seem to stretch to
the horizon. Lake Torrens filled only once last century and Lake
Eyre filled three times, it was a newsworthy event when it filled in
the year 2000:
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| Name |
State |
Size
(km2) |
| Lake Eyre |
South Australia |
9,500 |
| Lake Torrens |
South Australia |
5,745 |
| Lake Gairdner |
South Australia |
4,351 |
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Source: Geoscience
Australia: Largest
Lakes and Reservoirs
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Copeton Waters
•
Copeton Waters is almost three times the size of Sydney Harbour when
full and surrounded by recreation areas. The park covers 939
hectares where campers can enjoy a free form style of camping. There are hot showers and
amenities blocks (disabled facilities) scattered throughout the
park. A kiosk and laundry are also within the park and there are 76
powered camping/caravan sites.
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The Great Lakes
• The Great Lakes of New South Wales consist of
Myall, Wallis and
Smiths Lakes,
with a total area that is four and a half times the size of Sydney
Harbour and totals more than 1,300 square kilometres of waters.
About one third of The Great Lakes has been set aside in National
Parks and State Forests. With many beaches along its 145 km of
Pacific coastline, there is much to enjoy on and along it’s
waterways.
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Myall Lakes
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The Myall Lakes
is in an ancient river basin, locked between
high sand dunes on the coast and much older, flatter dunes on the west.
For forty kilometres, beaches, offshore islands and the most extensive
brackish lake system on the state’s coastline nurture a wealth of
ecological treasures. A series of geological events caused a
diverse substrate that supports an immense range of habitats, from wildflower heathlands to luxurious rainforests.
The dunes on both sides of the lakes run parallel to the ocean and have
been built up by the sea over various ice ages and fluctuating sea
levels. On the coastal edge, old land continues to be washed with new
sands. Between Hawks Nest and Seal Rocks moving ‘aeolian’ dunes are constantly
shape by the winds.
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Smiths Lake
• With the Myall Lakes National Park to the south,
Wallingat National Park to the north, Booti Botti National
Park to the north east, and fringed by De Bert Reserve,
there is plenty for the bush walker and plenty of camping
facilities in the region. Much of Smiths Lake is shallow and
offers a safe place for children to play. To the east of the lake is the
sandy embankment of Cellito Beach, separating Smiths Lake from the Tasman Sea.
You can hire a small boat to cross the lake, to Cellito Beach, then take a
plunge into the Tasman Sea.
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Lake Tinaroo
Tinaroo Falls Dam
•
The township of Tinaroo, also referred to as Tinaroo Falls, Tinaroo
Falls Dam and Lake Tinaroo, is located on the shores of the huge artificial lake
west of Yungaburra and north-east of Atherton. Tinaroo Dam was started in 1953 and completed in 1958, and
was built to dam the water from the Barron River to supply irrigation
for the regions tobacco farms and produce; as well as to supplement
water passing through the Barron Gorge Hydro-Electricity Station.
Tinaroo Dam is now one of the three largest water storages in
Queensland, which is about three quarters the size of Sydney Harbour,
and is often referred to just as Lake Tinaroo. Today, it’s multi-purpose
use includes water supply for the Tableland towns, crop irrigation,
stock watering and recreation.
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Lake Gordon
• The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National
Park links the great Southwest National Park to the Cradle Mountain Lake
St. Clair National Parks forming a huge wilderness area that just about
covers the south western area of Tasmania. It is home to the Franklin,
Gordon and Olga Rivers. A region that contains wonders yet discovered, the last stands of
Huon Pine, regarded as one of the worlds great timbers for it’s
incredible durability, and scenery that existed before mankind’s
arrival.
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Lake Margaret
• Built by the Mt Lyell Mining and
Railway Company, the Lake Margaret Power Station began operating in 1914,
providing electricity for company mines and associated townships.
The lake itself is located up on Mount Sedgwick. The catchment area is only 20
square km, but rainfall in the region is high. Once the 200 metre long dam was
built it raised the level of the original lake some six metres.
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Australia Lakes and Reservoirs - Other links
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Geoscience
Australia
• Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave & Hindmarsh Drv, SYMONSTON ACT 2609
• Ph: 02 6249 9111 • Fax: 02 6249 9999
• National agency for geoscience
research and geospatial information.
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