Lake Hindmarsh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Hindmarsh |
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|---|---|
| Location | Wimmera, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 36°04′S 141°55′E / 36.067°S 141.917°E |
| Type | eutrophic |
| Primary inflows | Wimmera River |
| Primary outflows | Outlet Creek (When full), evaporation |
| Catchment area | 23,500 km2 (9,100 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Max. length | 22 km (14 mi) |
| Max. width | 7 km (4.3 mi) |
| Surface area | 135 km2 (52 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 3.4 m (11 ft) |
| Max. depth | 3.65 m (12.0 ft) |
| Water volume | 378 GL |
Lake Hindmarsh is the biggest natural freshwater lake in Victoria, Australia. It's located in the western part of the state. The towns closest to it are Jeparit to the south and Rainbow to the north. This lake is very large but also quite shallow. Because of this, it often dries up. For example, it was dry for almost ten years before big floods in 2011 filled it up again.
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History of Lake Hindmarsh
The land around Lake Hindmarsh has a long history. It is the traditional home of the Gromiluk people. They are a group of the Wotjobaluk people.
In 1838, an explorer named Edward John Eyre visited Lake Hindmarsh. He camped there while looking for a way to travel by land between Melbourne and Adelaide. By 1845, European settlers started to live near the lake. Later, in 1859, a special place called the Ebenezer Mission was set up nearby by the Moravian church.
About Lake Hindmarsh's Geography
Lake Hindmarsh is the first in a series of wetlands. These wetlands are at the end of the Wimmera River. All of the lake's water comes directly from the Wimmera River.
When the lake is completely full, it covers a huge area of 13,500 ha (33,000 acres). It is about 3.4 m (11 ft) deep and can hold 378 GL of water. This lake is considered a very important wetland for Australia. If Lake Hindmarsh gets too full, its water can flow into another, deeper lake called Lake Albacutya. Lake Albacutya is so important that it is a Ramsar wetland, which means it's recognized internationally.
Why Lake Hindmarsh Dries Up
Because Lake Hindmarsh is so shallow, its water evaporates quite quickly. When the lake is full, about 140,000 ML of water can evaporate each year. The Wimmera River usually only brings in about half that amount of water. This is why the lake is rarely full for long periods. It can take about three to four years for the lake to dry up completely.
Flooding and Drying Cycles
Lake Hindmarsh was full during the wet years in the early to mid-1970s. At that time, people even had a business catching fish from the lake. It was also a popular spot for water sports, like water-skiing.
The lake filled up again in 1996. However, after that, no more water flowed in from the Wimmera River. By the year 2000, the lake had completely dried up. It stayed dry for almost ten years.
In October 2009, water from the Wimmera River finally started to trickle into Lake Hindmarsh again. This was the first time in 13 years! The big 2010 Victorian floods helped raise the water levels even higher. Many birds returned to the lake because of the increased water. After the 2011 Victorian floods in January, people hoped the Wimmera River would fill the lake and then overflow into the lakes further north. However, the outlet creek stayed dry, and the lake is still waiting for its next big flood.
