Lake Beeac

Lake Beeac
Lake Beeac Location in Victoria
Location	Western District Lakes, Victoria
Coordinates	38°12′18.5″S 143°36′59.5″E / 38.205139°S 143.616528°E / -38.205139; 143.616528Coordinates: 38°12′18.5″S 143°36′59.5″E / 38.205139°S 143.616528°E / -38.205139; 143.616528[1]
Type	Endorheic, hypersaline
Primary outflows	Evaporation
Basin countries	Australia
Surface area	560 ha (1,400 acres)
References	[1][2][3][4][5]

Lake Beeac, a hypersaline endorheic lake, is located near Colac in the Lakes and Craters region of the Victorian Volcanic Plains of south-west Victoria, in southeastern Australia. The 560-hectare (1,400-acre) lake is situated about 19 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Colac, and its high salinity gives it a milky-blue colour. The lake is part of the Ramsar-listed Western District Lakes site, and enjoys international recognition of its wetland values and some protection for its waterbirds.^[5]

Wildlife

Despite its extreme salinity, Lake Beeac supports brine shrimp which in turn feed water birds such as the banded stilt and the red-necked avocet.^[5] Birds have been known to come from as far as Siberia and China to eat the lake's shrimp.^[6] The lake is an important habitat for wetland water-birds. The lake forms part of the Lake Corangamite Complex Important Bird Area, so identified by BirdLife International because it sometimes supports globally important numbers of waterbirds.^[7]

History

In the late 19th century, salt factories were established on the shores of Lake Beeac and other nearby lakes.^[5]

See also

• List of lakes of Victoria

References