Lake Tali Karng

About

Lake Tali Karng is a natural lake in the Alpine region of Victoria, in eastern Australia. At 14 hectares (35 acres) in area and 51 metres (167 ft) in depth, it is the only deep highland lake in Victoria. It was formed by a landslide 1,500 years ago.

Unlike alpine lakes in the Snowy Mountains, Lake Tali Karng is the only permanent, deep, highland lake in Australia that is not of glacial or volcanic origin. It was formed by debris falling from the Sentinel, which is 700 metres (2,300 ft) above the valley. The landslide dammed the Wellington River with the area of the landslide now known as the Valley of Destruction. The lake has no stream outlet, and has never been known to overflow, with water seeping away through the Valley of Destruction.

Two creeks feed the lake, Snowden Creek and Nigothoruk Creek. Nigothoruk Creek has three waterfalls, collectively called the Snowden Falls. There is no vegetation in the lake itself because the water is slightly acidic. Its maximum depth is 51 metres (167 ft) and, due to the minimal sunlight falling on it, together with the snow-melt which feeds it, it remains cold throughout the year.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.