• Source: Lake Kununurra

Lake Kununurra is a freshwater man-made reservoir located in the Ord River valley. The lake was formed in 1963 by the construction of the Ord Diversion Dam in Kununurra, northern Western Australia, which was built to supply water to the Ord River Irrigation Area. Prior to the diversion dam construction a natural permanent waterhole (or lake) held back by the Bandicoot Bar was known as "Carlton Reach", which was reputed to be the largest waterhole in the Kimberley.




Description


The lake stretches for 55 km (34 mi) upstream from the Diversion Dam at 15°47′30″S 128°41′45″E towards the larger Lake Argyle dam at 16°07′15″S 128°44′17″E. At the town of Kununurra the lake is connected to Lily Creek Lagoon. It contains freshwater crocodiles and 21 fish species, and is widely used for recreational fishing and boating by the residents of Kununurra and tourists. Because of the stable water levels in Lake Kununurra and its associated wetlands, it has well-developed fringing vegetation of grassland, rushes and woodland. The wetland system of the two lakes and the lagoon forms the Lakes Argyle and Kununurra Ramsar Site.
In 2014 a saltwater crocodile estimated to be 3 metres (10 ft) long was spotted in the lake after bypassing dam walls. Local rangers lay baits in hopes of catching the creature.




Birds


The lake forms part of the Ord Irrigation Area Important Bird Area (IBA), so identified by BirdLife International because of its importance for wild birds, especially estrildid finches.




Engineering heritage award


The diversion dam was declared a Historic Landmark of Agricultural Engineering and awarded an Engineering Heritage Marker by Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.




See also



List of reservoirs and dams in Western Australia
Water security in Australia




References






External links


Lakes Argyle and Kununurra Ramsar Site – map
Kununurra Historical Society Inc. Archive, Library, Museum & Research (Links to Archive Images of Lake Kununurra)

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Bandar Udara Argyle
• Bandar Udara Internasional Port Hedland
• Wilayah pemerintahan daerah di Australia Barat
• Lake Kununurra
• Kununurra, Western Australia
• Lake Argyle
• Ord River
• Lakes Argyle and Kununurra Ramsar Site
• Kimberley historical timeline
• Ord Irrigation Area Important Bird Area
• List of dams and reservoirs in Australia
• Eucalyptus ordiana
• East Kimberley Regional Airport