Goyder Lagoon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Goyder Lagoon
The bird area surrounding the lagoon is an important site for inland dotterels
Goyder Lagoon Location in South Australia
Location	Clifton Hills Station, South Australia
Coordinates	26°47′04″S 139°08′01″E / 26.78444°S 139.13361°E / -26.78444; 139.13361
Type	Salt lake
Basin countries	Australia

The Goyder Lagoon is a huge, temporary swamp located in the Far North region of South Australia. It's part of the Diamantina River floodplain and sits right next to the Birdsville Track, close to the border with Queensland.

This lagoon is special because it doesn't always have water. It's an ephemeral swamp, which means it fills up with water only after heavy rains, usually from the Georgina-Mulligan River system. When it's full, it becomes a vital home for many different kinds of birds and other wildlife.

The lagoon is found within a large property called Clifton Hills Station. It was named in 1875 by J. W. Lewis, honoring George Goyder, who was a very important surveyor in South Australia.

Why Goyder Lagoon is Important

Even though Goyder Lagoon isn't officially a "protected area," it's still considered very important for the environment. This is because it's a unique mix of dry desert and wet areas, including rivers and ranges.

Part of a Big Wetland System

Goyder Lagoon is at the southern end of the Diamantina River Wetland System. This whole area is listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. It's seen as a great example of a major river system in a dry area that hasn't been changed much by people. It has a natural environment and huge floodplains that are still wild.

A Special Place for Birds

The area around Goyder Lagoon, covering about 2,684 square kilometers, is recognized by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA). This means it's a crucial spot for birds, especially when the lagoon is full of water.

Home to Many Waterbirds

When Goyder Lagoon floods, it becomes a giant bird paradise! In 2002, surveys estimated that about 170,000 waterbirds were living there. It's a key spot for over 1% of the world's population of freckled ducks, Australian terns, and royal spoonbills that come to breed.

You can also find other amazing bird species here, such as:

• Letter-winged kite
• Inland dotterel
• Grey and Eyrean grasswrens
• Black and pied honeyeaters
• Gibberbird
• Banded whiteface
• Chirruping wedgebill
• Cinnamon quail-thrush

The southern part of the lagoon is especially popular, hosting the largest groups of waterbirds. These include different types of cormorants, ducks, herons, and ibises. There's also a small group of yellow chats living near the Koonchera waterhole.

See also

In Spanish: Laguna Goyder para niños