| Lake Argyle |
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Lake Argyle This giant freshwater inland sea some 800 square kilometres in area and is the largest body of fresh water in Australia and holds over 50 times the volume of water in Sydney Harbour. Formed by the damming of the Ord River in 1972 Lake Argyle is rich in native flora and fauna and wildlife cruises of the lake depart every day from the LAKE ARGYLE TOURIST VILLAGE. There are some 70 islands throughout the lake which were once the tops of high ranges these islands are now haven to a variety of native marsupials and reptiles. A commercial fishing industry has developed on the lake and it is estimated that the waters are home to over 25.000 Fresh water crocodiles. There is a long-range plan to pipe this abundant water supply to the more arid regions of the south. The farmers who use the waters of Lake Argyle, grow maize, peanuts, sorghum and sunflowers. Cotton was tried, but was not successful. Also fruit is grown, especially melons that are exported to South East Asia. Lake Argyle is Australia 's largest artificial Lake , part of the Ord River Scheme, near the East Kimberley ( Western Australia ) town of Kununurra formed specifically for the project in 1963, is located on the Kimberley Plateau . The main channel of the Ord River (dark, meandering feature) north of the lake is visible as it drains northward, eventually emptying into the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf . The Ord and Bow River s that flow into the southern end of the lake are difficult to discern. Low, folded mountains can be identified east and west of this river valley. The earth-fill only dam wall at Lake Argyle is the most efficient dam in Australia in the ratio of the size of the dam wall to the amount of water stored. |
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