Lake Eacham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lake Eacham on the Atherton Tableland of Queensland is of volcanic origin, and is now a popular tourist lake.
Contents |
[edit] History
Lake Eacham, which is on the Atherton Tableland of Queensland, and the nearby Lake Barrine, were formed approximately 12,000 years ago by molten magma. The magma in the center of the earth rose to the surface and heated the water table. The steam that resulted from the boiling water was trapped underground, until massive explosions signalled its release. Huge cracks appeared in the ground and the trees that once lathed the mountainside were levelled and burnt. Eventually, over hundreds of years, water filled the craters and the trees grew back, creating the tranquil lake used today by families and tourists for recreation. The lake is fed by underground springs so it maintains a constant water level and is unaffected by drought.
[edit] Lake Eacham National Park
Lake Eacham is the centerpiece of the 4.89 km² (1,210 acres) Lake Eacham National Park, with a dense rainforest and thousands of small animals. The lake has an average depth of 65.5 metres (215 ft) is ideal for swimming, canoeing, bushwalking, and bird watching. No motor boats are allowed on the lake. It features a pontoon great for diving into the deep water. A large grassy area is terrific for picnics, sunbathing, or just watching children as they play in the shallow water near the edge of the lake. There is a circuit walk around the lake that takes around 45 minutes. There are also a few families of turtles that can usually be seen just to the left of the pontoon.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Atherton Tableland | |
|---|---|
| Attractions: Lake Tinaroo | Lake Eacham | Lake Barrine | Malanda Falls | Millaa Millaa Falls | Mount Hypipamee Crater | Mount Quincan | Seven Sisters | Curtain Fig Tree | Davies Creek | |
| Towns: Atherton | Dimbulah | Herberton | Kairi | Kuranda | Mareeba | Malanda | Millaa Millaa | Mutchilba | Ravenshoe | Tinaroo | Tolga | Walkamin | Yungaburra | |
| Local Government Areas: Atherton Shire | Eacham Shire | Herberton Shire | Mareeba Shire |
 |
This Far North Queensland geography article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
