Great Lake (Tasmania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Lake |
|
|---|---|
The northern end of the Great Lake
|
|
 Great Lake
Location in Tasmania
|
|
| Location | Central Northern Tasmania |
| Coordinates | 41°52′S 146°45′E / 41.867°S 146.750°E |
| Type | Natural lake; reservoir |
| Primary inflows |
|
| Primary outflows | Shannon River |
| Catchment area | 399 square kilometres (154 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Built | 1967 |
| Max. length | 24.6 km (15.3 mi) |
| Max. width | 12 km (7.5 mi) |
| Surface area | 176 km2 (68 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 1,030 m (3,380 ft) AHD |
| Frozen | During some winters. |
| Islands | Reynolds; Howells Neck; Pine; Helen; Kangaroo; and Maclanachans Point |
| Settlements | Miena, Breona, Liaweenee |
The Great Lake is a large lake in the central northern part of Tasmania, Australia. It started as a natural lake but was made much bigger to become a reservoir. A reservoir is like a giant storage tank for water.
Contents
Where is the Great Lake?
The Great Lake is found in the middle of Tasmania. It gets its water from two smaller streams called Pine Rivulet and Breton Rivulet. The water then flows out into the Shannon River.
The lake is very high up, about 1,030 metres (3,380 ft) (or 3,379 feet) above sea level. This makes it one of the highest large lakes in Tasmania.
How the Great Lake Grew
Originally, the Great Lake was much smaller. In 1922, a dam called Miena Dam #2 was built at the southern end of the lake. This dam helped to make the lake much larger than it was before. It grew to cover an area of about 176 square kilometres (68 sq mi).
The Shannon Rise Story
After Miena Dam #2 was built, a special place called the Shannon Rise was created. This was a 500-meter section of the Shannon River. In early summer, thousands of caddis moths would hatch there. This attracted many trout fish and people who loved to fish.
However, in 1967, a new dam was built just below Miena Dam #2. This new dam was made of rock and was designed to hold even more water. When this new dam was built, it sadly covered up and destroyed the famous Shannon Rise. The new dam was made even taller in 1982, which meant Miena Dam #2 sometimes went underwater.
What is the Great Lake Used For?
The Great Lake is very important for a few reasons:
- Hydro-electric power: Water from the lake flows down to the Poatina Power Station. Here, the moving water is used to create electricity. This is called hydro-electric power.
- Fishing: The lake is a popular spot for fishing, especially for trout.
- Tourism: Many people visit the lake for holidays and to enjoy the outdoors.
Visiting the Great Lake
The towns of Liaweenee and Miena are near the Great Lake. They are popular places for people to stay in holiday homes. Even though Tasmania usually has mild weather, this area is known for being very cold.
During winter, it can get so cold that parts of the lake's surface sometimes freeze. The road that runs along the west side of the lake, called the Lake Highway, can even be covered in snow during winter. Because of the cold, fewer people live in these towns during the winter months.
