Lake Albacutya
Lake in Victoria, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lake Albacutya (Wergaia: Ngelbakutya)[3] is an ephemeral lake located in Albacutya within the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia. It is one of a series of terminal lakes on the Wimmera River, which form the largest land-locked drainage system in Victoria. Lake Albacutya is designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.[4]
| Lake Albacutya (Ngelbakutya) | |
|---|---|
  Lake Albacutya (Ngelbakutya) Location in Victoria | |
| Location | Albacutya, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 35°45′21″S 141°58′28″E[1] |
| Type | Eutrophic |
| Primary inflows | Outlet Creek |
| Primary outflows | Outlet Creek (when full); evaporation |
| Catchment area | 23,500 km2 (9,100 mi2) |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Max. length | 13 km (8.1 mi) |
| Max. width | 5 km (3.1 mi) |
| Surface area | 55 km2 (21 mi2) |
| Average depth | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Max. depth | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Water volume | 230 GL (5.1×1010 imp gal; 6.1×1010 US gal) |
| Designated | 15 December 1982 |
| Reference no. | 270[2] |
Location and features
On the occasions that there is an overflow from Lake Hindmarsh to the south, water enters Outlet Creek, (Wergaia: Krumelak[3]) which then feeds Lake Albacutya. When full, Lake Albacutya covers 5,500 ha (14,000 acres), is 8 m (26 ft) deep, and holds around 230 gigalitres (8.1×109 cubic feet) of water.
The lake generally fills and empties on a 20-year cycle, the longest dry period on record being 27 years.[5] In 2011 it was reported that the lake had not received any inflow for some years and remained dry throughout the wetter years of 2011–2012.[6]
Being less saline than Lake Hindmarsh, Lake Albacutya supports a denser cover of vegetation during its dry phase.[7]
