Wednesday 25/10/2023 Pink Lake
Dimboola Area, VICTORIA
Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
A short drive west of Dimboola you can find Pink Lake. Although not a walk it proved to be a remarkably interesting stop. Today it was cold and very windy. There were plenty of small waves that had formed on the lake as a result, all heading straight towards us. With a crusty white shoreline of crystalline salt, rows of waves almost parallel to the horizon and clouds with lots of character against a deep blue sky with dramatic clouds, this was a very special treat.
Pink Lake
Saturday 28/10/2023 Pink Lake Revisited
Pink Lake proved to be irresistible as we were driving back to Dimboola after a couple of fantastic days camped in Little Desert National Park. So we stopped to have another look around under different weather conditions.
Pink Lake
Information on Parks Victoria signage at the carpark
Welcome to Loch iel Lake Reserve
Pink Lake as it is locally known
Australia is fortunate to have rare pink salt lakes, similar to this one occurring across its vast interior.
Pink-coloured salt lakes are not permanently pink; they colour up when the lakes environmental conditions are just right.
Most of the pink colour within Australian salt lakes is due to a combination of algae (Dunaliella salina) and bacteria (Salinibacter ruber) species that thrive in really salty (hypersaline) wetlands.
The pink colouring appears when the tiny algae secrete red, orange and yellow pigments called carotenoids that then combine with the algae when the water becomes hypersaline.
Important places to people
Wetland lakes (fresh or salty) are unique and fragile places across the world. Large and small their ecosystems are of great importance to many people and are of significant cultural heritage value to all Australians.
The Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk peoples, (collectively Wotjobaluk) the Traditional Owners of this land, have long held cultural and traditional responsibilities to protect and manage their lands.
Historically livestock grazing and salt harvesting occurred at this reserve. We have since learned how fragile the soils and specialised plants of these areas are. They are easily damaged.
The Traditional Owners continue to care for and have a relationship with these special places.
Please show respect for Pink Lake by observing the regulations put in place to protect it.
Naturally salty wetlands with special plants
Pink Lake is one of many wetlands occurring in a vast system of long shallow wetlands stretching 120 kilometres across Victoria’s south west in the Wimmera, from Jeparit in the north to Douglas in the south.
Migratory birds
The Banded Stilt, an Australian nomad, seeks food and refuge in hypersaline wetlands. Vast flocks can visit the salty Wimmera wetlands during wet seasons.
This small wading bird’s breeding is triggered when floodwaters fill inland salt lakes. These large shallow lakes come alive with tiny shrimp on which these waders feed.
Glassworts (Salicornia quinqueflora)
Also known as Samphire. Adapted to grow in salty areas. Excess salt absorbed is pushed out to the tip of their fleshy leaves, which then drops off. They grow close to the salty water’s edge.
Salt Paperbark (Melaleuca halmaturorum)
Tolerate mild salt conditions and grow just above the high-water level.
Yellow Gum and Buloke
(Eucalyptus leucoxylon) and Buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii) prefer higher ground.
Unique, important and fragile
The naturally salty wetlands of the Wimmera and other parts of Australia are essential for the survival of many unique plants and animals adapted to live there.
They create important habitats and food resources for a diverse array of wildlife including visiting birds and resident specialised animals and aquatic life, large and small.
Explore other Australian pink Lakes
Some ‘must see’ pink lakes include
• Lake Tyrrell in north west Victoria near Sea Lake
• Lake Crosbie and Lake Becking in Victoria’s Murray-Sunset National Park.
• Lake Bumbunga in South Australia and
• Lake Hillier and Hutt Lagoon in Western Australia.
It can be tough living here
We need your help to live here in this fragile pink jewel in the crown of the Wimmera landscape. To prevent erosion and damage to sensitive plant life on the lake edge please stay off the lake bed keep to the established track tread lightly as you explore the lake foreshore and please do not harvest any salt or pick any plants.
“It is so important to get out on Country with the next generation to touch the land and connect with country.” – Suzy Skurrie, Wotjobaluk elder
The local flora, fauna, geology, history and some other walks (ChatGPT)
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