Lake Baandee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Baandee |
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 Lake Baandee
Location in Western Australia
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| Location | Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°36′33″S 117°56′20″E / 31.60917°S 117.93889°E |
| Type | Salt lake |
| Catchment area | 30,000 ha (74,000 acres) |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Surface area | 250 ha (620 acres) |
Lake Baandee, also known as Baandee Lake, is a unique lake in Western Australia. It's a "salt lake," which means its water is salty. It's also "ephemeral," meaning it doesn't always have water. It fills up after rains and can dry out at other times. You can find it in the Wheatbelt area. It's about 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of Doodlakine. The town of Hines Hill is also located along the edge of the lake.
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What is Lake Baandee Like?
Lake Baandee is part of a very old river system called the Salt River. This area has wide, flat valleys. These valleys are connected by many salt lakes. These lakes are often dry and look like big, flat pans. They are sometimes called "playas." The land around the lakes has gentle slopes and rocky areas. These areas rise up to sandy plains.
Plants Around the Lake
Many salt lakes often don't have plants growing in the water itself. But around the edges, you'll find special plants that love salt. These include types of samphire, saltbush, and bluebush. Further away from the salty areas, you'll find thickets of Melaleuca uncinata. Then there are open woodlands with trees like Eucalyptus loxophleba (York gum), Eucalyptus salmonophloia (salmon gum), Eucalyptus salubris (gimlet), and Eucalyptus longicornis (morrel).
History of Lake Baandee
The traditional owners of the land around Lake Baandee are the Noongar peoples. Specifically, they are from the Njakinjaki language group. The name Baandee has a special meaning. It can mean "of perspiration or sweat." It also means "shimmer in a silvery fashion." This refers to how sunlight reflects off the salt layer when the lake is dry.
In 1953, the lake and other nearby lakes flooded. This flood was so big that it cut off the town of Baandee. The town is located to the north of the main lake.
Fun Things to Do at the Lake
The Lake Baandee area has some great facilities for visitors. You can find picnic tables and a barbeque area there. These were provided by the Inland Water Skiing Club. There are also restrooms and shower facilities. The Shire of Kellerberrin built these. If there's enough water, you can go swimming and water skiing at the lake. This is usually possible for a few months each year.
