Friday, 29 April 2016

The Great Lake, Tasmania.

The Great Lake is a natural lake and man-made reservoir that is located in the central northern region of Tasmania, Australia.
Area: 114 km² Surface elevation: 1,030 m
Length: 22 km
Catchment area: 399 km²
Year built: 1967
Outflow location: Shannon River
Town: Miena
We ventured up to the lake and surrounding areas on Sunday to see how low the water level was.  The lake supplies water for some of the Hydro Power to Tasmanian's.
The lake is very low for this time of year. 
In the photos you will see where the normal level is expected to be.


Going up the hill to the top of the mountain, then it plateaus out.
In Winter is may snow but the snow is gone in a day or three.
The view looking down used to be magnificent but the trees have grown blocking it now.
It's Autumn and Winter is not far away.
All trees remain the same as in the photo in Autumn and Winter.
There is only one delicious tree in Tasmania, so therefore it changes colour in Autumn, and that tree is not a large one and is found in another area of our Island.
Any Autumn colours in the leaves of trees are not native to Tasmania and have been planted by settlers, past and present.




3 people and a dog and a very small area of the Great Lake. 



56 comments:

  1. Hello Margaret,
    What a lovely place. So quiet and a fanastic view.
    But I see it's dangerous for a swim.

    Many greetings,
    Marco

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    1. Dangerous in that area where I took the photo because the water goes into a 'intake' which takes the water to another area.

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  2. Is the lake so low because of drought or is that typical at this time of year. Interesting to know that there are no native deciduous trees in Tasmania.

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    1. The lake is low because of the drought. There are several lakes within Tasmania that are extremely low. Lake Gorden is another which is down the South West, a rather ruggered area but beautiful to visit.
      There is 'one' native deciduous tree in Tasmania and that's found at Lake Dobson. I have seen it but it's only small.

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  3. Made me want to jump in--- Lovely shots.

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    1. Good for a swim and fishing up there. Many shacks are scattered around accessible areas.

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  4. I looks as if it is still lovely and warm with you even though you are heading towards winter - blue skies and lovely blue lake

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    1. Rosemary, the weather has been just beautiful with temperatures of 20C to 25C during the night, about 10 to 14C overnight - however it's cloudy today and rain is forecast but hasn't happened yet!

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  5. The beauty of the blue, of its waters, is conducive to contemplation, however there is a danger if you proceed to take a bath.

    Kisses

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    1. Dangerous in the area I have shown. With the level so low, not a good idea to swim.

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  6. Those drought conditions you have had down there are FAR WORSE than I imagined, as Tasmania has a reasonably high rainfall average compared to the other southern states.
    This lake situation now makes perfect sense regarding your electricity supply situation in "Tassie."
    "Huey" needs a wake up call or you'll all be out doing frenzied "rain dances" and if this continues - that will be VERY SOON.

    Does the No Swimming and Boating sign refer to where the Shannon River enters the lake???
    Thanks for a great expose of your electricity and drought like situation. Not looking good.
    Cheers - now out into your new garden, you and Shanks, and "DANCE" !!!
    Colin

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    1. It's bad here with the drought Colin. Farmers have no feed, selling of their sheep, keeping only some of their prime Merino sheep. Capacity of lakes for power about 6.2 is the level.
      It's trying to rain here but nothing is happening so far.

      The No Swimming etc. refers to where the intake is, the water goes to other areas down a long pipe from the mountain to a Hydro station etc.

      I think many of us should be doing a 'rain dance' :)

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  7. Looks peaceful. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. Replies
    1. It is a lovely drive but a long one, we left home before 11am and kept traveling arriving home about 5.30pm..One has to take into consideration there wasn't much traffic either.

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  9. I love the idea of snow being gone in a day! When we lived in WI, once winter set in, we seldom saw the ground till spring.

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    1. Oh my, can't imagine living with snow all of the time, but I guess you had to get used to it. Sometimes our snow on the Mountains will stay a few days, depends.

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  10. How alarming and it has not been a particularly hot summer. It looks like a shallow shelf surrounding the deeper part of the lake.

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    1. Our summer here has lasted much longer Andrew. No rain in our last spring or summer. Hard to believe really.

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  11. So different views, but so beautiful. I would like to walk there.
    Hugs

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  12. Are you kidding? Only ONE deciduous tree in the whole of Tasmania? Wow.

    The lake is lovely, even as low as it is. a three day rainfall might help. I'll do a raindance.

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    1. No, not kidding at all.
      Just one deciduous tree, was looking for a photo but couldn't find.

      Your raindance must have worked - it rained yesterday :)

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  13. Looks peaceful. Intresting to learn that the autumn coloured trees there are not native. I did not know that.

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    1. I'm always amazed at the colours I see in other countries that have autumn native trees, just brilliant.

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  14. It looks so peaceable, what a calm waters. Love it.

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    1. Very calm there and lots of birds I presume - you would like that.

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  15. I hope rain will come and the lake be filled up once again. Our dams are also at an alarmingly low level because of the heat wave.

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    1. Yes, Nancy, rained yesterday, trying to today but sun keeps coming through.

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  16. Unfortunately, I've only visited Tasmania once...for a week on business back in 1986 when I was manager and sales/marketing manager for the then resort on Hinchinbrook Island. I stayed in Hobart, but on last day I drove to Launceston and back again. I flew out back to the mainland later that afternoon.

    What I saw in my brief, somewhat contained stay was quite wonderful, as was the hospitality shown.

    I'd like to have been able to see more of the Apple Isle...it truly appears to be a beautiful place.

    I hope the rains come.

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    1. Very different from the remainder of Australia is our Island, always a beautiful scene around each corner.
      Rain fell yesterday, most of the day - sun shinning now.

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  17. It does look very nice and great to see blue skies ... but yes, rain is needed.

    We have a three day bank holiday weekend in the UK and it nearly always rains on bank holidays, I'll have to send a little rain over to you !

    Have a great weekend

    All the best Jan

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    1. Often happens here too, poor weather for holidays. Enjoy your long weekend.
      Yes, it rained yesterday at last!

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  18. very interesting your post, I learned a lot ... your pictures are always very succeeded in these wonderful places!

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  19. Thanks for the education. It was interesting. To bad about the the state of the lake. Lets hope it recovers.

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    1. Pleased you found my post interesting.
      The lake will recover, more rain last night - Sunday morning and real heavy, so that would be all over the Island.

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  20. Happy Saturday.
    You mentioned bait for ferals on the Z post. What kind of bait?

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    1. I don't know what kind of bait/virus, apparently it's only been put in a few areas to help control the feral cats. I read about it a month or two ago - and I believe it was on the TV.
      Ferel cats kill and spread virus's/diseases to our native animals, that's a problem for dying out species.
      Most owners of cats have their animals vaccinated and keep them indoors 24/7 except farm cats, but they too are taken care of in the correct manner.

      It's Sunday down here, we are as in time way ahead.

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  21. One of the places I must see.
    Like that 3 people and a dog.

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  22. Low water storage in dams seems to be a common theme throughout Australia at the moment. May we all have big rains.

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    1. After summer it's expected that dams be low, but not as low as they are with no winter, spring rains.
      It rained last night - meaning Sunday during the night.

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  23. Oh what lovely photos of such a lovely place

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  24. We have spent the past week or so on the shores of both Lake Huron and Lake Ontario. Must be the great lakes week for both of us!

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    1. Must have been, was a good time we had as I'm sure did too!

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