kids encyclopedia robot

Lake Gilles Conservation Park facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Lake Gilles Conservation Park
Lake GillesSouth Australia
01 Lake Gilles 03.JPG
The southern shore of Lake Gilles looking northeast
Lake Gilles Conservation Park is located in South Australia
Lake Gilles Conservation Park
Lake Gilles Conservation Park
Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city Kimba
Established 30 September 1971 (1971-09-30)
Area 655.27 km2 (253.0 sq mi)
Managing authorities Department for Environment and Water
Website Lake Gilles Conservation Park
See also Protected areas of South Australia

Lake Gilles Conservation Park is a special protected area in South Australia. It is located in the northern part of the Eyre Peninsula. You can find it about 20 kilometers east of the town of Kimba. This park helps protect the unique nature of the area.

This conservation park was first created on September 30, 1971. Back then, it was called Lake Gilles National Park. It was later renamed Lake Gilles Conservation Park on April 27, 1972. More land was added to the park on August 5, 2010. This made the protected area even bigger.

What Makes Lake Gilles Special?

Lake Gilles Conservation Park is known for its interesting lake system. The lake is "ephemeral," which means it sometimes dries up. This creates a unique environment.

Around the lake, you can find special plants called samphire communities. These plants are tough and can grow in salty soil. On the eastern plains of the park, there are many mallee communities. These are areas with small, multi-stemmed eucalyptus trees. You can also see Western Myall trees and chenopod shrubs.

Animals of the Park

The park is a home for many different animals, especially birds. It provides important habitat for several bird species.

Some of the birds you might find here include:

How the Park is Protected

Lake Gilles Conservation Park is classified as an IUCN Category Ia protected area. This is the highest level of protection. It means the park is a "Strict Nature Reserve."

In a Strict Nature Reserve, the main goal is to protect nature as much as possible. Human activities are very limited. This helps keep the natural environment safe and undisturbed for the plants and animals that live there.

kids search engine
Lake Gilles Conservation Park Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.