Lake Victoria (New South Wales) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Victoria |
|
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg)
Paddlesteamer landing at Lake Victoria, ca. 1925
|
|
 Lake Victoria
Location in New South Wales
|
|
| Location | Far West, New South Wales |
| Coordinates | 33°59′40″S 141°16′26″E / 33.99444°S 141.27389°E |
| Primary inflows | Murray River, Darling River |
| Primary outflows | Rufus River |
| Catchment area | Murray–Darling basin |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Settlements | Wentworth |
Lake Victoria is a natural freshwater lake in New South Wales, Australia. It's a key part of the Murray River system and the larger Murray–Darling basin. This lake is very important for managing water in the region.
Contents
Where is Lake Victoria Located?
Lake Victoria is found in the western Riverina area of southwestern New South Wales. It's about 60 kilometers (37 miles) downstream from where the Murray River and Darling River meet.
How Does Water Flow In and Out?
Water flows into Lake Victoria from Frenchmans Creek. This creek is a smaller branch of the Murray River. The lake then sends water back into the Murray River through the Rufus River. This happens below a structure called Lock 7, which helps control the river's flow.
Why is Lake Victoria Important?
Lake Victoria acts like a giant storage tank for water. In the 1920s, its capacity was increased. Workers built an embankment and installed special gates called regulators. These regulators help control how much water is released from the lake.
Managing Water for South Australia
The main purpose of Lake Victoria is to store water for South Australia. It makes sure that a certain amount of water always flows down the Murray River into that state. Even though the lake is in New South Wales, it's managed by SA Water. This is South Australia's water authority. They operate the lake for River Murray Water, which is part of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission.
Lake Victoria's Size and Depth
When Lake Victoria is completely full, it holds a huge amount of water: 677 gigaliters (GL). That's enough water to fill 677,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools! The lake covers an area of 12,200 hectares (about 30,147 acres). At its deepest point, it's about 5.5 meters (18 feet) deep.
