Lake Albacutya

Lake Albacutya
Lake Albacutya Location in Victoria
Location	Wimmera, Victoria
Coordinates	35°45′21″S 141°58′28″E / 35.75583°S 141.97444°E / -35.75583; 141.97444Coordinates: 35°45′21″S 141°58′28″E / 35.75583°S 141.97444°E / -35.75583; 141.97444[1]
Type	Eutrophic
Primary inflows	Outlet Creek
Primary outflows	Outlet Creek (when full); evaporation
Catchment area	23,500 km2 (9,100 sq mi)
Basin countries	Australia
Max. length	13 km (8.1 mi)
Max. width	5 km (3.1 mi)
Surface area	55 km2 (21 sq mi)
Average depth	8 m (26 ft)
Max. depth	8 m (26 ft)
Water volume	230 GL (5.1×1010 imp gal; 6.1×1010 US gal)

Lake Albacutya is a eutrophic lake located in the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia. It is one of a series of terminal lakes on the Wimmera River, which form the largest land-locked drainage system in Victoria. Lake Albacutya is designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.^[2]

Location and features

On the occasions that there is an overflow from Lake Hindmarsh to the south, water enters Outlet Creek which then feeds Lake Albacutya. When full, Lake Albacutya covers 5,500 ha (14,000 acres), is 8 m (26 ft) deep, and holds around 230 gigalitres (8.1×10⁹ cubic feet) of water.

The lake generally fills and empties on a 20 year cycle, the longest dry period on record being 27 years.^[3] In 2011 it was reported that the lake had not received any inflow for some years and remained dry throughout the wetter years of 2011-2012.^[4]

Being less saline than Lake Hindmarsh, Lake Albacutya supports a denser cover of vegetation during its dry phase.^[5]

References