Lake Hillier
Lake Hillier | |
---|---|
Goldfields-Esperance, Western Australia | |
Coordinates | 34°05′45″S 123°12′10″E / 34.09583°S 123.20278°E |
Type | Salt lake |
Basin countries | Australia |
Designation | Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve |
Max. length | 600 m (2,000 ft) |
Max. width | 250 m (820 ft) |
Surface area | 15 ha (37 acres) |
References | [1] |
Lake Hillier is a
Description
Lake Hillier is about 600 metres (2,000 ft) in length by about 250 m (820 ft) in width.
History
European discovery and use
Lake Hillier was visited by the Matthew Flinders expedition on 15 January 1802. Flinders's journal entries are considered to be the first written records of the lake. Flinders observed the pink lake after ascending the island's highest peak (now called Flinders Peak), describing the lake as follows:[6]
In the north-eastern part was a small lake of a rose colour, the water of which, as I was informed by Mr. Thistle who visited it, was so saturated with salt that sufficient quantities were crystallised near the shores to load a ship. The specimen he brought on board was of a good quality, and required no other process than drying to be fit for use.
Flinders visited Middle Island again in May 1803; he intended "to stop a day or two in Goose-Island Bay, for the purposes of procuring geese for our sick people, seal oil for our lamps, and a few casks of salt from the lake on Middle Island". It is reported that Flinders subsequently named the lake after William Hillier, a crew member of
In 1889,[9] Edward Andrews investigated the commercial possibilities of producing salt from Lake Hillier, and briefly moved onto the island with both of his sons.[10] They left after working the salt deposits for about one year.[9]
The lake was subject to salt mining during the late 19th century. The salt mining enterprise is reported as failing for a number of reasons including "the toxicity of the salt collected for consumption".[8]
Forms of life
The only living organisms in Lake Hillier are microorganisms including
Safety and accessibility
Despite the high salt content levels (comparable to those of the Dead Sea), Lake Hillier is safe to swim in.[citation needed] However, it is not advisable nor allowed without previous approval by the Western Australia Dept of Environment Conservation.[citation needed]
There are very few ways to reach Lake Hillier. Aeroplane scenic flights are the most common method, with six flights a day departing Esperance Airport, flying over Lake Hillier via the nearby Cape Le Grand National Park. Cruises are also an option for passengers wanting to visit the isolated lake, and surrounding forest area.
Protected area status
As recently as 2012, Lake Hillier has been located within the boundaries of the Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve. Since 2002, the lake itself has been considered to be a wetland of "subregional significance".[11][12]
See also
References
- ^ "Guide to Asia - Lake Hillier - Australia". 2004. Archived from the original on 23 August 2006. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
- ^ "Lake Hillier". Retrieved 2 March 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Ten Random Facts - Lake Hillier". 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ Department of Environment and Conservation (2012). A guide to managing and restoring wetlands in Western Australia (PDF) (Report). Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Western Australia. pp. 18–19. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ Heger, Monica (7 March 2016). "Extreme Microbiome Project Aims to Characterize Microbes Living in Harsh Environments". genomeweb. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
- ^ Flinders, Matthew (1814) [Facsimile Edition, 1966]. "Book I Chapter IV". A Voyage to Terra Australis; Undertaken for the purpose of completing the discovery of that vast country, and prosecuted in the years 1801, 1802 and 1803, in his majesty's ship the Investigator, and subsequently in the armed vessel Porpoise and Cumberland schooner. With an account of the shipwreck of the Porpoise, arrival of the Cumberland at Mauritius, and imprisonment of the commander during six years and a half in that island. Volume I. London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. and published by G. And W. Nicol. Retrieved 30 January 2020 – via Project Guttenberg.
- ^ Flinders, Matthew (1814) [Facsimile Edition, 1966]. "Book II, Chapter X". A Voyage to Terra Australis; Undertaken for the purpose of completing the discovery of that vast country, and prosecuted in the years 1801, 1802 and 1803, in his majesty's ship the Investigator, and subsequently in the armed vessel Porpoise and Cumberland schooner. With an account of the shipwreck of the Porpoise, arrival of the Cumberland at Mauritius, and imprisonment of the commander during six years and a half in that island. Volume II. London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. and published by G. And W. Nicol. Retrieved 2 March 2015 – via Project Guttenberg.
- ^ a b Green, Jeremy; Souter, Corioli; Baker, Patrick (2001). "Department of Maritime Archaeology Visit to Middle Island, Recherche Archipelago, Esperance, 29 April–4 May 2001, Report–Department of Maritime Archaeology Western Australian Maritime Museum No. 154" (PDF). Western Australian Maritime Museum. p. 7. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ a b Alistair Paterson and Corioli Souter (April 2006). "Report on historical archeological expedition to Middle and Boxer Islands, Recherche Archipelago" (PDF). Western Australian Museum. p. 12. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^ "The story of the Middle Island Boys" (PDF). Esperance Island Cruises. Retrieved 18 July 2015.[dead link]
- ^ Department of Environment and Conservation (2012). Esperance and Recherche parks and reserves draft management plan 2012 (PDF) (Report). Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Western Australia. pp. 15 & 108. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- ISBN 0-7307-5534-7. Retrieved 1 March 2015.