Lake Connewarre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Connewarre |
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View of lake from Tait Point
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 Lake Connewarre
Location in Victoria
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| Location | Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 38°13′29″S 144°27′21″E / 38.22472°S 144.45583°E |
| Type | Estuarine |
| Native name | Kunawarr keelingk Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Primary inflows | Barwon River |
| Primary outflows | Barwon River |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Surface area | 880 hectares (2,200 acres) |
| Average depth | 0.5–2 m (1 ft 8 in – 6 ft 7 in) |
Lake Connewarre is a large, shallow lake in Victoria, Australia. Its name comes from the Wathawurrung language of the Aboriginal people, Kunawarr keelingk, which means black swan lake. This lake is part of the Barwon River system. It is found on the Bellarine Peninsula, southeast of the city of Geelong. The lake covers about 880 hectares (2,175 acres) and is an important natural area.
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About Lake Connewarre
Lake Connewarre is special because it is an estuarine lake. This means it is a mix of fresh water from the river and salty water from the sea. It is connected to the ocean through a channel of the lower Barwon River. Because of this connection, the lake experiences tidal flows, meaning its water levels rise and fall with the ocean tides.
Water Flow and Salinity
A special wall, called a weir, helps control the water in the lake. This weir stops salty ocean water from moving too far upstream into the river. This helps keep the water balance right for the plants and animals that live there. The lake is quite shallow, usually less than one meter deep. This makes it generally not suitable for large boats.
Protecting the Lake's Environment
Lake Connewarre is recognized as a very important wetland. It is part of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site. A Ramsar site is a wetland that is important around the world. Much of the lake area is also protected as the Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve.
However, the land around the lake has been used for farming. This has caused some environmental problems, like damage to the natural environment. Water coming from upstream can also be polluted, which lowers the water quality. Less water flowing into the lake has also caused silt to build up, making the lake even shallower.
Animals of Lake Connewarre
Lake Connewarre and its surrounding wetlands are a vital home for many animals. It is part of the Bellarine Wetlands Important Bird Area. This means it is a very important place for different kinds of waders (birds that wade in shallow water), waterbirds, and even the rare orange-bellied parrot.
Fish and Fishing
The lake is also home to several types of fish. People sometimes fish here for short-finned eels. You can also find yellow-eye mullet, black bream, and Australian salmon in the lake. The types of fish present can change depending on how salty the water is at different times.
Images for kids
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Opening of the game season at Lake Connewarre, 1874
