Lake Albacutya

Coordinates: 35°45′S 141°58′E / 35.750°S 141.967°E / -35.750; 141.967
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Lake Albacutya
LocationWimmera, Victoria
Coordinates35°45′S 141°58′E / 35.750°S 141.967°E / -35.750; 141.967
Typeeutrophic
Primary inflowsOutlet Creek
Primary outflowsOutlet Creek (When full), evaporation
Catchment area23,500 km2 (9,100 sq mi)
Basin countriesAustralia
Max. length13 km (8.1 mi)
Max. width5 km (3.1 mi)
Surface area55 km2 (21 sq mi)
Average depth8 m (26 ft)
Max. depth8 m (26 ft)
Water volume230 GL

Lake Albacutya is a freshwater lake in western Victoria, Australia. It is listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.[1] When full Lake Albacutya covers 5,500 ha (14,000 acres), is 8 m (26 ft) deep and holds around 230 GL.

Geography[change | change source]

The lake is part of the Wimmera River Terminal Wetlands. Water enters the lake from Outlet Creek which only flows when Lake Hindmarsh overflows. Water from the Wimmera River flows into Lake Hindmarsh. When full water from Lake Albacutya flows along Outlet Creek, and begins to fill further small lakes and wetlands to the north. This has not happened since 1976.[2]

Water quality[change | change source]

Because the lake has less salt than Lake Hindmarsh, Lake Albacutya supports a denser cover of vegetation in its dry phase. [3]

The lake has not received any inflow for some years and remained dry throughout the wetter years of 2011-2012.[2]

References[change | change source]

  1. "Ramsar Convention - The Ramsar List". ramsar.org. 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Ker, Peter (25 January 2011). "Parched lake may end 15-year dry". theage.com.au. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2014-01-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)