Islands of Lake Argyle facts for kids

The Lake Argyle Islands are a big group of islands found in Lake Argyle. This lake was made by building the Ord River Dam on the Ord River. It's located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. There are almost 70 islands that have official names. These include the bigger islands and even some small, rocky bits of land.

How the Islands Were Made

Before Lake Argyle was created, this area was part of a cattle station. The islands you see today were once high points of land. They were hills and ranges on the ground.

In 1971, the Ord River was dammed. This created the huge Lake Argyle. As the lake filled up with water, the lower parts of the land went underwater. The higher parts, like the hills, stayed above the water. These became the new islands.

The lake has never dried up, and it's very unlikely to. This means most of the islands are always there. However, the water level in the lake often changes. Because of this, islands can get bigger or smaller. Some might even disappear and then show up again when the water level drops.

Some of these islands have rocky or sandy beaches. They can have different plants and animals living on them. Other islands are very rocky or swampy. These ones might not have much plant life.

Island Groups

There are different groups of islands within Lake Argyle. Each group has its own unique features.

Chinyin Group

The Chinyin Group includes Chinyin Island and two smaller islands. They are all found close to the dam wall. These islands are small and a bit hilly. They are in a dry, empty-looking landscape.

Yambaraba Group

Yambaraba Island is the only island that is always there in the Yambaraba Group. This island is mostly bare, meaning it doesn't have many plants. But it does have beaches and a small hill in its middle.