Lake Lefroy
{{Short description|Lake in Western Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Lake Lefroy
| image = Lake Lefroy.jpeg
| caption = Satellite image of Lake Lefroy
| pushpin_map = Australia Western Australia
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Western Australia
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = Kambalda, Western Australia
| coords = {{coord|31|18|S|121|42|E|region:AU-WA_type:waterbody_source:GNS-enwiki|display=title,inline}}
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| catchment = {{convert|4160|km2|mi2|0}}
| basin_countries = Australia
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Lake Lefroy is a large ephemeral salt lake in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. It is north of Lake Cowan and approximately {{convert|55|km|mi|0}} south of Boulder. The town of Kambalda is on the northern shore and the hamlet of Widgiemooltha near the southern edge.{{cite web |url=https://d28rz98at9flks.cloudfront.net/12218/Rec1968_106.pdf |title=Government Members Mining and National Development Committees Fact Finding Tour July 21st-28th 1968|year=1968|accessdate=3 September 2016|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia}}
Description
Lake Lefroy is a clay pan covered with a crust of salt that supports little vegetation. It fills episodically in response to heavy rainfall. Following inundation, a drying phase is relatively rapid due to high evaporation rates and surface water may only last for a few months. When the lake contains water there may be relatively large fluctuations in water level over very short periods. The shallow surface water in the lake is blown back and forth across the lake bed by prevailing winds.{{cite web|title=Development of Framework for Assessing the Cumulative Impacts of Dewatering Discharge to Salt Lakes in the Goldfields of Western Australia|url=https://www.water.wa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/5149/102743.pdf|website=Department of Water|publisher=Outback Ecology Services|accessdate=26 November 2016|location=Jolimont, WA|format=pdf|date=January 2009}}{{cite web|last1=Lacey|first1=Daniel |title=Hydrogeological Assessment for Beyond 2010 Project |url=http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/EIA/instructions-documents/proponent-documents/Documents/St%20Ives%20Gold%20Mine%20-%20Lake%20Lefroy%20PER%20-%20December%202010/TC1/TC1-5%20-%20Lake%20Lefroy%20Groundwater%20Review.pdf|website=Environmental Protection Authority|publisher=URS Australia Pty Ltd|accessdate=26 November 2016|location=East Perth, WA|date=8 April 2010}}{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Anthony J. |last2=Barr |first2=Anthony D. |last3=Hick|first3=Wayne P.|title=Extension of Lake Lefroy Hydrological Program |url=http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/EIA/instructions-documents/proponent-documents/Documents/St%20Ives%20Gold%20Mine%20-%20Lake%20Lefroy%20PER%20-%20December%202010/TC1/TC1-3%20-%20CSIRO%20Hydrology%20Study%20of%20Lake%20Lefroy.pdf|website=Environmental Protection Authority|publisher=CSIRO Land and Water |accessdate=26 November 2016|location=Perth, WA|format=pdf|date=March 2003}}
The lake was named on 21 August 1864 by the explorer Charles Cooke Hunt after fellow explorer Henry Maxwell Lefroy, who had conducted an expedition in the area with Henry Landor in 1843.{{cite news|last1=Hunt|first1=Charles Cooke|authorlink1=Charles Cooke Hunt|title=Mr Hunt's Expedition|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66013328/6578961|accessdate=26 November 2016|work=The Inquirer and Commercial News|date=7 December 1864|location=Perth, WA|pages=3}}
In January 1897 alluvial gold was discovered at Red Hill, on the northern edge of the lake by the prospector Percy Larkin. His first parcel of {{convert|106|oz|g|0}} of gold was found near where Kambalda stands today.{{cite news |title=Coolgardie|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3105776|accessdate=26 November 2016|work=The West Australian|date=18 January 1897|location=Perth, WA|page=5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.goldfieldskey.com.au/index.php?id=58 |title=Kambalda|year=2003|accessdate=1 November 2013 |publisher=The Key Publishers}}
The lake is used for land sailing, and is considered to be one of the best places to sail a land yacht due to its size and the texture of its surface.{{Citation | author1=Day, Susan | title=Memories of Lake Lefroy : a history of land sailing on Lake Lefroy | publication-date=2006 | publisher=Susan Day | isbn=978-0-646-45817-5 }}
The lake has been used in the past for Australian land speed record attempts and hosted the 2007 Pacrim Land Sailing Event with competitors from all over the world.
In 2008 Britons Dale Vince and Richard Jenkins spent two weeks on the lake with a land yacht with solid sails like an aircraft wing, to attempt the world wind powered vehicle record, but the attempt was abandoned due to constant delays caused by heavy rain and no wind.{{cite news|title=Wind power speed record bid fails |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7610786.stm |accessdate=26 November 2016|work=BBC News|date=12 September 2008}}
In 2016 Qantas showed Lake Lefroy During their Qantas safety video{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=fhbXFHrDmTg&pp=ygUYUWFudGFzIHNhZnRleSB2aWRlbyAyMDE2 |title=Qantas Safety Video - 2016 |date=2016-02-02 |last=Qantas |access-date=2024-12-23 |via=YouTube}}
See also
{{Portal|Western Australia}}
- {{section link|List of lakes of Australia|Western Australia}}