Burrendong Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Burrendong |
|
|---|---|
A picnic area by the lake.
|
|
| Location | Near Wellington, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 32°40′4″S 149°6′25″E / 32.66778°S 149.10694°E |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Macquarie River, Cudgegong River and Meroo Creek |
| Primary outflows | Macquarie River |
| Catchment area | 13,900 square kilometres (5,400 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Built | 1967 |
| Max. length | 1,113 metres (3,652 ft) |
| Surface area | 8,900 hectares (22,000 acres) |
| Average depth | 57 metres (187 ft) |
| Max. depth | 344 metres (1,129 ft) |
| Water volume | 6,345 cubic metres (224,100 cu ft) |
| Surface elevation | 344 metres (1,129 ft) AMSL |
Lake Burrendong is a big lake in New South Wales, Australia. It was made by building the Burrendong Dam across the Macquarie River. This dam helps control floods, provides water for farms, and even makes electricity! The dam is near the town of Wellington. Water flows into the lake from the Macquarie River, the Cudgegong River, and Meroo Creek.
Many people visit Lake Burrendong for fun activities. It's a great spot for fishing and enjoying nature.
Contents
Discovering Lake Burrendong's Story
The Burrendong Dam was built by a group called the New South Wales Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission. They started building it in 1958. The dam was finished in 1967.
Its main jobs were to stop big floods, provide water for farms (this is called irrigation), and make sure there was always enough water for people. The dam is about 30 kilometres (19 miles) southeast of Wellington. The name Burrendong comes from the Wiradjuri language, which is the language of the local Aboriginal people. It means "koala".
How Big is Burrendong Dam?
The dam wall is very tall, about 76 metres (249 feet) high. It is also very long, stretching for 1,116 metres (3,661 feet). When the dam is full, the water is usually about 57 metres (187 feet) deep.
The dam can hold a huge amount of water. It has a surface area of 7,200 hectares (17,800 acres). This is like having 7,200 football fields covered in water! The dam collects water from a very large area, about 13,900 square kilometres (5,370 square miles).
Keeping the Dam Safe
Between 2010 and 2015, the dam had a big upgrade. This project cost about AU$32 million. The goal was to make sure the dam met all the newest safety rules. During this upgrade, the main dam wall was made 1.8 metres (5 feet 11 inches) taller. They also changed the existing spillway and added another one. A spillway is like a giant drain that lets out extra water safely when the dam is too full.
Making Electricity at the Dam
The Burrendong Dam also has a special building called a hydro-electric power station. This station uses the power of falling water to make electricity. It was finished in 1996. The Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr, officially opened it in 1999.
This power station can make up to 19 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Each year, it produces enough electricity to power many homes. It was first run by a company called Power Facilities Pty Limited. Now, it is managed by AGL Energy.
