Lake Argyle In The Kimberley Amazing Experience
April 7th, 2010 · No Comments · Destinations
Lake Argyle is an amazing place to see, touch and experience. Before I saw Lake Argyle I assumed is was just like anything other lake, not true. I visited Lake Argyle several years ago and found it is absolutely huge and very scenic. Normal level of the lake is equal to 18 times what Sydney Harbour holds, at full capacity can hold twice that much.
Lake Argyle has a very interesting history, amazing wildlife, plenty of things to do like fishing, tours, bird watching, lake cruises, charter flights over the lake, swimming with 20,000 freshwater crocodiles, if you don’t like that idea your accommodation will most likely have a swimming pool and you can visit the Durack Homestead.
Lake Argyle is in the Top End of Western Australia near the Northern Territory so it can be accessed from the nearest town Kununurra or from the NT via the Victoria Highway, about a 35 kilometre scenic drive on a sealed road. Prior to europeans discovering this east Kimberley area it was inhabited by aboriginals for about 40,000 years, the area was considered an ideal area for cattle and that started many famous long journeys by the Duracks and others to set up the Kimberley at the cattle empire.
Damming of the Ord River was first contemplated in 1939 and 20 years later planning started and was completed in 1972. This dam wall is 99 metres high and 318 metres long and much more of it is below ground level. This wall is holding back all of Lake Argyles water, therefore stopping a major flood of Kununurra and beyond.
While we where visiting lake Argyle we went on a Sunset Cruise, this photo was taken from the cruise boat.
Another beautful photo from the cruise boat.
This photo is taken from standing on the dam wall looking out at a very small part of Lake Argyle. When you are the biggest part of the lake it is just like being out on the sea, you can’t see any land.
Looking out the side of the dam wall down the Ord River which flows to Lake Kununurra and beyond. The water has changed from a bright blue to a green colour.
Looking up at the dam wall from ground level shows the water flowing through the controlled irrigation system, also there is an organised tour preparing to canoe down the Ord River.
Lake Argyle is one of the many stunning experiences in the Kimberley.
View Directions to Lake Argyle in a larger map
Tags: 4wd·adventure holiday·australia holiday·family holidays·lake argyle·ord river·the Kimberley·touring Australia·Travel Australia
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