Lake Flagstaff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Flagstaff |
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 Lake Flagstaff
Location in Western Australia
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| Location | Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°30′35″S 117°15′40″E / 33.50972°S 117.26111°E |
| Type | Salt lake |
| Catchment area | 23,000 ha (57,000 acres) |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Max. length | 1.9 km (1.2 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.3 km (0.81 mi) |
| Surface area | 223 ha (550 acres) |
| Average depth | 0 to 1.8 m (0.0 to 5.9 ft) |
| Shore length1 | 5.2 km (3.2 mi) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Flagstaff, also known as Flagstaff Lake, is a special kind of lake in Western Australia. It's an ephemeral lake, which means it doesn't always have water. It's a salt lake, so its water is salty. You can find it in the Great Southern region. It is about 21 kilometers (13 miles) north-west of Woodanilling. It's also about 28 kilometers (17 miles) south-west of Wagin.
About Lake Flagstaff
Lake Flagstaff is shaped like an oval. It covers an area of about 223 hectares (551 acres). This lake is part of a group of three lakes. To the west is Lake Charling, then Queerearrup Lake, and finally Lake Flagstaff in the east.
When these lakes get too full, their extra water flows into the eastern part of the Beaufort River. Interestingly, the same channel that brings water into the lake can also carry water away when the lake is full. This is similar to what happens at Lake Ewlyamartup.
Location and Environment
Lake Flagstaff is found within the middle part of the Beaufort River catchment area. It is also part of the larger Blackwood River basin. The land around the lake has flat plains, small sand dunes, and low ridges. These features are made from ancient river deposits and wind-blown sand.
The lake sits along an old path where water used to flow a long time ago. The area gets about 462 millimeters (18 inches) of rain each year. However, much more water evaporates, about 1,826 millimeters (72 inches) annually. The northern side of the lake is a protected area. This land is set aside to help keep native plants and animals safe.
History of the Area
The original people of this land are the Noongar peoples. They have lived in this region for many thousands of years. They are the traditional owners and caretakers of the land around Lake Flagstaff.
Later, in the 1890s, the Douglas family became some of the first European settlers in the lake area. Joe Douglas and his five sons each chose land there. They built their homes and started farming the land.
