Lake Mountain (Victoria) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Mountain |
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A ski trail at Lake Mountain following a snowfall
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,433 m (4,701 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Lake Mountain
Location in Victoria
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| Location | Victoria, Australia |
| Parent range | Cathedral Range, Great Dividing Range |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | unknown |
| Easiest route | Short hike from carpark |
| Lake Mountain Alpine Resort | |
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| Location | Lake Mountain |
| Nearest city | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 37°31′01″S 145°52′51″E / 37.51694°S 145.88083°E |
Lake Mountain is a mountain in Victoria, Australia. It stands about 1,433 meters (4,701 feet) high. This mountain is also a very popular ski resort, especially for cross-country skiing.
It's located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Melbourne. Many people visit Lake Mountain because it's so close to the big city. This makes it the most visited ski resort in Australia.
You might think there's a lake at Lake Mountain, but there isn't! The mountain was named after George Lake. He was a surveyor who mapped the area a long time ago.
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Exploring Lake Mountain Resort
Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is a fun place for families. It sits in a dip between Lake Mountain and Echo Flat. The resort offers access to a big network of trails, about 37 kilometers (23 miles) long. These trails wind through the beautiful Yarra Ranges National Park.
Cross-Country Skiing and Tobogganing
Lake Mountain is mainly for cross-country skiing. This means you ski across flat or gently rolling terrain, not down steep slopes. Most visitors are families looking for a fun day in the snow.
The resort has several toboggan runs, which are perfect for sliding down hills. There are two main runs that are open to everyone. One is right next to the main visitor center. The other one branches off for a longer, steeper ride. Snowboarding is not allowed here.
Visitor Facilities
The main visitor center at Lake Mountain opened in 2004. It cost about $3.7 million to build and update other buildings. This center has a licensed café bar called The Heights Bar and Café. It stays open all year for hikers and bike riders too.
Impact of the 2009 Bushfires
In 2009, big bushfires, known as the Black Saturday bushfires, caused a lot of damage at Lake Mountain. Much of the forest was burned. Almost all the buildings were destroyed, except for the main Day Visitor Centre.
A lot of hard work was done to get the resort ready for the 2009 winter season. Temporary buildings were brought in for toilets and first aid. Damaged wooden trails and bridges were rebuilt. This helped the resort welcome visitors again quickly.
Road Cycling Challenges
Lake Mountain is a very popular spot for road cyclists. The roads leading up to the resort offer challenging climbs. Cyclists can ride up from two different towns.
One route is from Warburton, which is a tough 40-kilometer (25-mile) climb. The other, more popular route, is from Marysville. This climb is 21.3 kilometers (13.2 miles) long. It has an average uphill slope of 4.3%. The first 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) are the hardest, with an average slope of 8.1%.
Images for kids
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Portable buildings set up at Lake Mountain after the Black Saturday bushfires.
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Main visitor centre - the only remaining building after the fires.
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Lake Mountain toboggan run burnt.
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The burnt trees, somewhere up on the Cross-Country trail.
