Chadinga Conservation Park

Chadinga Conservation Park
South Australia
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
Chadinga Conservation Park
Nearest town or city Penong, South Australia
Coordinates 31°58′36.22″S 132°51′20.15″E / 31.9767278°S 132.8555972°ECoordinates: 31°58′36.22″S 132°51′20.15″E / 31.9767278°S 132.8555972°E
Established 11 November 1993[1]
Area 11,854 hectares (29,290 acres) [1]
Managing authorities Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
See also Protected areas of South Australia

Chadinga Conservation Park, formerly the Chadinga Conservation Reserve, is a protected area in the Chadinga Dunes on the western side of Lake MacDonnell, near Penong, South Australia. The park covers 11,854 hectares (45.8 sq mi) of coastal dunes, containing a lake and areas of Mallee scrub.[1] It is commonly called "Tuckamore" by local people. The dunes extend up to 3 km inland and form a habitat for the spinifex hopping mouse.[2] The park has no visitor facilities, although bush camping is permitted.[3]

Within the reserve is found the Dinosaur Ant (Nothomyrmecia macrops), noted as a "living fossil".[4] The lake is the largest of several salt lakes in the area - others include Red Lake (a small section of Lake MacDonnell cut off by the Penong to Point Sinclair/Cactus Beach road) and Blue Lake, a smaller lake to the south of Lake MacDonnell.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Protected Areas Information System - reserve list (as of 17 Feb 2014)" (PDF). Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Chadinga Conservation Park". Department for Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  3. ↑ "Australian National Parks, Chadinga Conservation Reserve". Australiannationalparks.com. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  4. ↑ "Dinosaur Ant, Fossil Ant (Nothomyrmecia macrops)". Department for the Environment, Water Heritage and the Arts. Retrieved 2007-03-11.