Copperlode Falls Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Copperlode Falls Dam |
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 Copperlode Falls Dam
Location in Queensland
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| Location | 11km southwest of Cairns |
| Coordinates | 16°58′48″S 145°40′26″E / 16.9799°S 145.674°E |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | Australia |
Copperlode Falls Dam, also known as Lake Morris, is a large freshwater reservoir located in the Lamb Range area of Queensland, Australia. It sits west of the city of Cairns and provides drinking water for the entire city. A reservoir is like a big, artificial lake built to store water.
Contents
Building the Dam: A History
Why Cairns Needed More Water
Long ago, the city of Cairns got its water from two creeks: Freshwater Creek and Behana Creek. But as Cairns grew bigger, people quickly realized they would need a much larger water source. It was clear that the city's water supply would not be enough for everyone in the future.
Finding the Perfect Spot
To solve this problem, an engineer named F. Morris started looking for a good place to build a dam. In 1935, he explored the Lamb Range mountains, which are west of Cairns. He found a promising spot at Copperlode Falls, near where Freshwater Creek begins. After many years of studies to make sure the location was suitable, the Queensland Government finally approved the plan. They decided to build a dam made of earth and rock there.
Construction and Cost
The government first set aside A$3 million for the dam's construction. However, by the time the dam was finished on March 25, 1976, the total cost had risen to about $6.5 million. This shows how big and complex building a dam can be!
How Much Water It Holds
The reservoir, or artificial lake, can hold a huge amount of water: 45,000 megalitres. To give you an idea, one megalitre is one million litres! While this is a lot, it's much smaller than Lake Tinaroo, another large dam in Queensland, which holds 407,000 megalitres.
Naming the Dam and Lake
The reservoir is officially named Lake Morris. This name honors Frank Roland Morris, the Cairns City engineer who first discovered the site. The dam itself, however, is called Copperlode Falls Dam. It gets this name from the natural waterfalls that were there before the dam was built.
