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 mi2)
Basin countries	Australia
Max. length	13 km (8.1 mi)
Max. width	5 km (3.1 mi)
Surface area	55 km2 (21 mi2)
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]