Lake Lefroy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Lefroy |
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 Lake Lefroy
Location in Western Australia
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| Location | Kambalda, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°18′S 121°42′E / 31.300°S 121.700°E |
| Catchment area | 4,160 square kilometres (1,606 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Australia |
Lake Lefroy is a huge salt lake in Western Australia. It's special because it's an ephemeral lake, which means it only has water sometimes, usually after heavy rain. You can find it in the Goldfields-Esperance area, about 55 kilometers (34 miles) south of Boulder. The town of Kambalda sits on its northern side, and the small village of Widgiemooltha is near its southern edge.
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About Lake Lefroy
Lake Lefroy is mostly a clay pan. This means it's a flat area of clay that gets covered with a layer of salt. Not many plants can grow here because of the salt.
When the Lake Fills with Water
The lake only fills up with water when there's a lot of rain. But the water doesn't stay for long! It dries up pretty quickly, usually in just a few months. This is because the weather is hot, and the water evaporates fast.
When the lake does have water, its level can change a lot in a short time. The water is very shallow. Strong winds can even blow the water back and forth across the lake bed.
History of Lake Lefroy
Lake Lefroy was named a long time ago, on August 21, 1864. An explorer named Charles Cooke Hunt named it after another explorer, Henry Maxwell Lefroy. Henry Lefroy had explored this area with Henry Landor in 1843.
Gold Discovery at the Lake
In January 1897, something exciting happened near the lake. A prospector named Percy Larkin found gold at a place called Red Hill, on the northern edge of the lake. He found a lot of gold, about 106 ounces (3,000 grams)! This discovery was made close to where the town of Kambalda is today.
Fun Activities at Lake Lefroy
Lake Lefroy is a great place for land sailing. This is a sport where people use special vehicles called land yachts that have sails, like a boat, but they move on land! The lake's large size and smooth surface make it perfect for this sport.
Land Speed Records
The lake has also been used for trying to set Australian land speed records. In 2007, it hosted a big event called the Pacrim Land Sailing Event. People from all over the world came to compete.
In 2008, two people from Britain, Dale Vince and Richard Jenkins, tried to set a world record for a vehicle powered by wind. They used a land yacht with solid sails, like an airplane wing. They spent two weeks at the lake, but they had to stop their attempt. There was too much rain and not enough wind for their record attempt.
