Stranger Pond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stranger Pond |
|
|---|---|
Looking northwest over (Lower) Stranger Pond, 2007
|
|
 Stranger Pond
Location in Australian Capital Territory
|
|
| Location | Bonython, Australian Capital Territory |
| Coordinates | 35°25′47″S 149°4′11″E / 35.42972°S 149.06972°E |
| Lake type | Artificial lake |
| Primary inflows | Urban and rural stormwater |
| Primary outflows | Murrumbidgee River, in times of flood only |
| Surface area | 8.5 hectares (21 acres) |
Stranger Pond is actually two special artificial lakes in Canberra, Australia. These ponds collect stormwater, which is rainwater that flows off streets and other areas. You can find them in the Tuggeranong district of the Australian Capital Territory.
One pond is called 'Upper Stranger Pond' and is in Isabella Plains. The other is 'Lower Stranger Pond', located in Bonython. Most people just call the Lower Stranger Pond 'Stranger Pond'. Even Google Maps labels only the Bonython pond as 'Stranger Pond'.
What is Stranger Pond?
Stranger Pond was created in 1989 when a dam was built across a natural water channel. This happened as the area around it was being developed into a town. The main reason for building these ponds was to act like giant filters. They catch soil and other bits of debris (like leaves and litter) from the stormwater. This helps to clean the water before it flows into the important Murrumbidgee River.
Size of the Ponds
The Upper Stranger Pond covers an area of about 4.4 hectares (11 acres). The Lower Stranger Pond is slightly smaller, covering about 4.1 hectares (10 acres). Together, they play a big role in managing water in the area.
Wildlife at Stranger Pond
Stranger Pond is a great place to see native Australian wildlife. You might spot graceful pelicans gliding on the water or swans swimming by. On the land around the pond, you could see kangaroos hopping and even wombats exploring.
Fish in the Pond
If you enjoy fishing, you can find two types of fish in Stranger Pond: Carp and Redfin.
- Carp can grow quite large, with some weighing up to 8 kilograms (18 lb)! You can often catch them using corn as bait.
- Redfin are smaller and can be caught using lures like celtas, small soft plastics, or even flies.
There are many different kinds of birds that visit Stranger Pond. You can find a detailed list of all the birds seen there by visiting this website: eBird Hotspot: Stranger Pond.
