Lake Yealering facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Yealering |
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 Lake Yealering
Location in Western Australia
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| Location | Wheatbelt, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 32°35′55″S 117°37′37″E / 32.59861°S 117.62694°E |
| Type | Saline |
| Primary inflows | Groundwater and surface runoff |
| Catchment area | 2,700 ha (6,700 acres) |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Surface area | 160 ha (400 acres) |
| Average depth | 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) (September average) |
| Max. depth | 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) |
Lake Yealering, also known as Yealering Lakes, is a special kind of lake in the Wheatbelt area of Western Australia. It's a salt lake that doesn't always have water in it, meaning it's ephemeral. You can find it on the southern edge of the town of Yealering, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) north-west of Wickepin. It's also about 250 kilometers (155 miles) south-east of Perth.
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About Lake Yealering
Lake Yealering is located in the Shire of Wickepin and the Shire of Corrigin. It sits along an old path where a river once flowed a very long time ago. This lake is part of the upper areas of the Avon River system.
The lake is part of a bigger area called the Lake Yealering System, which covers about 775 hectares (1,915 acres). This system includes Lake Yealering itself, which is 160 hectares (400 acres), and a group of other shallow lakes called the swamp, covering 240 hectares (590 acres).
How the Lake Fills and Dries
Other temporary water bodies are also part of this system, located about 5 kilometers (3 miles) north of Yealering. These include Brown Lake, White Water Lake, and Nonalling Lake, along with other smaller lakes and swamps.
Water flows into Lake Yealering from small streams, especially during winter. The main water comes from Wogolin and Boyning Gully, which enter through the swamp. When Lake Yealering gets full, some of its water flows back into the smaller lakes in the swamp. Eventually, water from the lake flows into Cuneenying Brook and then into the Avon River.
The lake doesn't always have water. It fills up and dries out at different times. For example, it stayed full between 1982-1985 and 1989-1992. The deepest part of the lake is about 2.65 meters (8.7 feet), and its average depth in September is about 1.55 meters (5.1 feet).
Saltiness of the Water
The water in Lake Yealering can be very salty, but its salinity changes a lot. The lowest saltiness ever recorded was 430 milligrams per liter in 1993, which is not very salty. But the highest was a super salty 267,000 milligrams per liter in 1981! On average, the water has about 32,700 milligrams per liter of salt.
The lake and its surrounding wetlands are very important because they have many different kinds of plants and animals. Because of this, they are listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia.
Plants and Animals of Lake Yealering
The area around Lake Yealering is home to many different types of plants. These include low shrublands with plants like Tecticornia indica and Tecticornia pergranulata. You can also find open woodlands with Banksia prionotes trees and grasses like Ehrharta calycina. Other areas have Casuarina obesa trees over the same samphire shrubs, and open woodlands with Eucalyptus sargentii trees and Melaleuca atroviridis shrubs.
Wildlife of Lake Yealering
The lake and its surroundings are a valuable home for many native animals. Some of the mammals you might find here include the western barred bandicoot, heath mouse, quenda (which is another type of bandicoot), western brush wallaby, and the wambenger (a small marsupial).
Many birds also live in and around the lake. These include beautiful black swans, the rare Carnaby's black cockatoo, and wading birds like the common sandpiper and great egret. You might also spot colorful rainbow bee-eaters, western rosellas, and even the fast peregrine falcon.
History of the Lake Area
The original people of this land are the Njakinjaki group of the Noongar peoples. They have lived in this region for thousands of years, long before European settlers arrived.
European settlers started coming to the lands around the lake in the 1870s. Before 1907, some Yugoslav migrants set up market gardens where the town is now. Lake Yealering was a very important source of fresh water for these gardens and later for the town itself.
Things to Do at Lake Yealering
Lake Yealering offers several fun activities for visitors. You'll find places to park, have a picnic, and use barbecue facilities. The lake's waters are great for different water sports like skiing, swimming, sailing, and windsurfing. There are also nature walks through the bushland around the lake, perfect for exploring and enjoying nature.
