Lake Beeac

Lake Beeac is a hypersaline lake in the Australian state of Victoria. It is located about 19 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Colac and covers an area of 560 hectares (1,400 acres).[1] Its high salinity gives it a milky-blue colour.[1]

Wildlife

Despite its extreme salinity, Lake Beeac supports brine shrimp which in turn feed water birds such as the banded stilt and the red-necked Avocet.[1] Birds have been known to come from as far as Siberia and China to eat the lake's shrimp.[2] The lake is an important habitat for wetland water-birds. It is part of the Ramsar-listed Western District Lakes site, and thus enjoys international recognition of its wetland values and some protection for its waterbirds.[1] The lake forms part of the Lake Corangamite Complex Important Bird Area, so identified by BirdLife International because it sometimes supports globally important numbers of waterbirds.[3]

History

In the late 19th century, salt factories were established on the shores of Lake Beeac and other nearby lakes.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Lake Beeac". Colac... a community website. http://www.otway.biz/lakebeeac.html. Retrieved 2010-12-01. 
  2. ^ "Beeac". Colac Otway Shire Council. http://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/page/Page.asp?Page_Id=1337&h=1. Retrieved 2010-12-01. 
  3. ^ BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Lake Corangamite Complex. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/07/2011.