Great Lake (Tasmania)

Great Lake

The northern end of the Great Lake
Location Tasmania
Coordinates 41°52′S 146°45′E / 41.867°S 146.750°ECoordinates: 41°52′S 146°45′E / 41.867°S 146.750°E
Lake type natural lake, reservoir
Primary inflows Pine Rivulet, Breton Rivulet
Primary outflows Shannon ->
Basin countries Australia
Max. length 24.6 km (15.3 mi)
Max. width 12 km (7.5 mi)
Surface area 114 km2 (44 sq mi)
Surface elevation 1,030 m (3,380 ft)
Islands Reynolds, Howells Neck, Pine, Helen, Kangaroo, Maclanachans Point Islands
Settlements Miena, Breona, Liaweenee

The Great Lake is a lake located in the central north region of Tasmania, Australia, within the sparsely inhabited Central Highlands municipality. Its original size was much smaller; it has been dammed at its southern outflow for hydro-electricity production. It is Australia's second largest freshwater lake (Lake Pedder is considered to be the largest), 1,030 metres above sea level. The lake has an area of 114 km². It is used for hydro-electric power, fishing, and tourism.

Nearby towns Liaweenee and Miena are popular holiday shack destinations for local tourists, despite the area's reputation as being one of the coldest places in the generally mild-weathered state. During the winter months when the weather is hardly conducive to camping, the population of these two small towns drops to two or three hundred. Parts of the lake surface have frozen during July in some years.

The Lake Highway or Highland Lakes Road runs along the west side of the lake and is sometimes snowed under in winter.


Further reading