Lake Albacutya

Lake Albacutya (Wergaia: Ngelbakutya)^[3] is an ephemeral lake located in Albacutya within 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.^[4]

Lake Albacutya (Ngelbakutya)
Lake Albacutya (Ngelbakutya) Location in Victoria
Location	Albacutya, Victoria
Coordinates	35°45′21″S 141°58′28″E[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)
Ramsar Wetland
Designated	15 December 1982
Reference no.	270[2]

Location and features

On the occasions that there is an overflow from Lake Hindmarsh to the south, water enters Outlet Creek, (Wergaia: Krumelak^[3]) 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.^[5] 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.^[6]

Being less saline than Lake Hindmarsh, Lake Albacutya supports a denser cover of vegetation during its dry phase.^[7]

References

1. "Lake Albacutya". Vicnames. Victorian Government. 2 May 1966. Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
2. "Lake Albacutya". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
3. Griffin, Darren; Muir, Ben. "Barringgi Gadyin – The Wimmera River and Wotjobaluk Connection to Country" (PDF). biolinksalliance.org.au. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
4. "Lake Albacutya". Department of Environment and Primary Industries. Victorian Government. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
5. "Lake Albacutya Park". Parks Victoria. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
6. Ker, Peter (25 January 2011). "Parched lake may end 15-year dry". The Age. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
7. "Chapter 18 – Wimmera River Terminal Wetlands, Assessing environmental water requirements, July 2010 Prepared by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2011.