Lake Colac

{{Short description|Freshwater lake in Victoria, Australia}}

{{Use Australian English|date=May 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Lake Colac

| image = LakeColac2010.JPG

| image_size = 250

| caption = Lake Colac, in January 2010, with historically low water levels

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| location = Western District Lakes, Victoria

| pushpin_map = Australia Victoria

| pushpin_relief = 1

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| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Victoria

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| coordinates_footnotes = {{cite web|url=https://services.land.vic.gov.au/vicnames/place.html?method=edit&id=1880|title=Lake Colac|work=Vicnames|publisher=Government of Victoria|date=2 May 1966|access-date=4 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606205525/https://services.land.vic.gov.au/vicnames/place.html?method=edit&id=1880|archive-date=6 June 2014|url-status=dead}}

| coords = {{coord|38|18|17|S|143|35|50|E|region:AU-VIC|display=inline,title}}

| type = Freshwater

| inflow = Barongarook Creek

| outflow =

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| basin_countries = Australia

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| cities = Colac

| other_name = Coram

}}

Lake Colac, a freshwater lake of the Western District Lakes, is located north of the Colac town centre in Victoria, Australia. The Aboriginal name for the lake is cited in a colonial report as Coram.{{Cite web |title=Native names of hills, rivers, lakes, and other natural features in Victoria |url=https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/docs/digitised_collections/collectors_of_words/smyth/m0053739_a.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205170746/http://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/docs/digitised_collections/collectors_of_words/smyth/m0053739_a.pdf |archive-date=5 February 2017 |access-date=14 May 2020}}

A yacht club and rowing club are located adjacent to the lake's shore. During the summer months, water skiers have access to the lake's facilities, and many birds may be found on the lake's surface and in the area. The foreshore has a playground, boat ramp and the Colac Botanical Gardens. In January 2009, the lake dried up after years of drought, and the first time in 173 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.intown.com.au/locals/colac/colac-fishing.htm|title=Colac Fishing|work=Intown Geelong website|access-date=2009-07-20|archive-date=18 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918052549/http://www.intown.com.au/locals/colac/colac-fishing.htm|url-status=live}}

In April 2016 the lake dried up after several years of drought.{{Cite news|title=Parched: Lake Colac days from drying up|last=Kieling|first=Egging|date=1 April 2016|work=Colac Herald}}

The Lake Colac bird sanctuary is nearby.{{cite book|title=Australian Good Birding Guide: Victoria|author1=Wnorowski, Ted|author2=Wnorowski, Alex}}