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| Lake Barrine | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lake Barrine |
| Location | Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia |
| Type | Volcanic crater lake (maar) |
| Coordinates | 17°17′S 145°30′E |
| Area | ~150 ha |
| Max-depth | ~65 m |
| Formed | ~17,000–17,500 years BP |
| Protected | Crater Lakes National Park |
Lake Barrine Lake Barrine is a freshwater crater lake on the Atherton Tablelands near Yungaburra, Queensland, Australia, located within Crater Lakes National Park. The lake sits in proximity to Lake Eacham and is part of a landscape shaped by volcanism in Australia, the Great Dividing Range, and regional Australian megafauna histories; it is accessible from Cairns and features in studies by institutions such as the Australian National University and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
The lake occupies a circular basin on the Atherton Tablelands between Yungaburra and Malanda, roughly equidistant from Cairns and Innisfail, and lies within the geological province influenced by the Great Dividing Range, the Gondwana-derived landscapes, and the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area. The shoreline is framed by remnant rainforest that connects to nearby protected areas including Barron Gorge National Park and habitats associated with species documented by the Australian Museum and the Queensland Herbarium. Surface area estimates vary, with hydrological surveys by the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia) and regional councils indicating an expanse of around 150 hectares and a maximum depth reported by field studies from the University of Queensland at approximately 60–65 metres. The lake’s catchment drains to local creeks that feed into systems mapped by the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce and recorded by the Atlas of Living Australia.
The basin formed as a maar—a volcanic explosion crater—during late Pleistocene activity related to the regional volcanic province that includes features such as Mount Hypipamee, Mount Mulligan, and the Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve area. Geochronology work by researchers affiliated with the Geological Society of Australia and dating methods used at the Australian National University place formation at roughly 17,000–17,500 years before present, contemporary with other Atherton volcanic events such as those that created Lake Eacham and Mount Warning (Wollumbin)'s older eruptive phases. Basaltic and pyroclastic deposits around the rim have been studied in surveys distributed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science and in academic publications hosted by the CSIRO. Substrate and sediment cores have revealed stratigraphy comparable to craters studied in the Taupo Volcanic Zone and referenced in comparative geology by the University of Melbourne.
Fringed by tropical rainforest typical of the Wet Tropics of Queensland bioregion, the lake supports assemblages of flora and fauna catalogued by the Australian Museum, CSIRO divisions, and the Queensland Herbarium. Vegetation includes species found in other Wet Tropics refugia studied by the Australian Tropical Herbarium, and faunal inventories have recorded birds associated with Daintree National Park and mammals documented by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Aquatic communities include native freshwater fish comparable to taxa surveyed by the Fisheries Queensland program, while herpetofauna surveys referenced by the Queensland Museum have recorded frogs and reptiles similar to species in Lamington National Park. Introduced species and ecological impacts paralleling issues addressed by the Invasive Species Council affect lake ecology, and research collaborations with the James Cook University examine trophic dynamics and algal blooms analogous to cases studied by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
The lake lies on the traditional lands of Indigenous peoples whose cultural heritage is linked to the broader history of the Yidinji and Ngadjon-Jii peoples and narratives maintained by regional cultural organizations such as the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Council. European engagement began with explorers and settlers associated with towns like Herberton and Atherton during 19th-century expansion documented in archives of the State Library of Queensland and histories produced by the National Library of Australia. The area was later the focus of conservation advocacy by figures and groups comparable to those involved with Daintree Rainforest protection, leading to formal protection under state legislation administered by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and recognition within the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage management frameworks. Cultural tourism enterprises operated by local Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses connect the lake to broader regional narratives promoted by bodies such as the Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
The site is a long-standing destination for visitors from Cairns, Townsville, and interstate locations, offering walking tracks, boat cruises, and interpretive facilities developed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and local operators registered with Tourism Australia and Tourism Tropical North Queensland. Nearby heritage sites include the historic village of Yungaburra and transport links like the Gillies Highway that connect to tourism circuits encompassing Lake Eacham, Malanda Falls, and the Atherton Tablelands. Activities such as birdwatching, guided rainforest walks, and lake cruises are conducted by licensed operators and community groups similar to organizations supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund and other state tourism initiatives. Visitor management follows protocols influenced by policies from the Department of Environment and Science and guidelines promoted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature applied across the Wet Tropics.
Management of the site falls under the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and aligns with commitments under the Wet Tropics Management Authority, reflecting strategies parallel to those used in Daintree National Park and other World Heritage sites. Conservation actions address invasive species control, water quality monitoring by agencies such as the Department of Environment and Science, and collaborative programs with Indigenous traditional owners mediated by the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Council. Research partnerships with institutions including James Cook University, the Australian National University, and CSIRO inform adaptive management, while funding and policy instruments mirror initiatives run through bodies like the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and regional natural resource management groups. Ongoing monitoring aims to balance biodiversity values, cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism consistent with national and international conservation frameworks administered by organizations such as the IUCN.
Category:Lakes of Queensland