Pink Lake (historically known as Lake Lochiel)[1] is a small, circular, salty pink lake on the Western Highway just north of Dimboola, Australia. Granville Stapylton, part of the explorer Thomas Mitchell's 1836 expedition into western Victoria, reconnoitered Pink Lake on 20 July 1836.[2]
| Pink Lake | |
|---|---|
 Pink Lake, 2015 | |
  Pink Lake Location in Victoria | |
| Location | Dimboola, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 36°25′05″S 141°57′40″E / 36.41806°S 141.96111°E |
| Type | Salt lake |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Max. length | 2 km (1 mi) |
| Max. width | 2 km (1 mi) |
| Surface area | 45 ha (111 acres) |
| Surface elevation | 250 m (820 ft) |
The lake received its name from its distinctive pink colour.[3] The brightness of the hue varies according to the level of rainfall.[4] Until recently it was assumed that red algae created the pink hue; however, recent research reported by Australian Geographic describes the colour as result of a pigment produced by the Salinibacter ruber bacteria.
A rest-stop overlooks the lake's basin.
Salt has been harvested from the lake since the 1860s and on average 20 tonnes a year are harvested by the Mount Zero Olive company working in conjunction with the Barengi Gadjin Land Council.[5] Commercial harvesting stopped in the 1970s but was resumed after negotiations between the Victorian State government, the Barengi Gadjin Land Council and the Mount Zero Olive Company in 2009.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "VICNAMES The Register of Geographic Names". maps.land.viv.gov.au. Victorian Government. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ Reid, John; Lovett, Keith H.; Blake, les J. (1996). Road Board to Restructure: The History of the Shire of Wimmera. Bacchus Marsh: Joval. p. 8. ISBN 095881127X.
- ^ Boyd, Sophie (7 March 2017). "Pink Lake in the spotlight". The Wimmera Mail Times. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ Geraghty, David. "Why is Pink Lake pink?". The Australian. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ Clark, Emily (28 April 2018). "Pink Lake harvest provides 'best salt in the world' and beautiful reason to stop for a photo". The ABC. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ McNiven, Hilary (21 May 2015). "Digging for an Australian delicacy: hand harvesting pink salt in the Wimmera". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2018.