Chadinga Conservation Park South Australia |
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IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
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Nearest town or city | Penong, South Australia |
Coordinates | 31°58′36.22″S 132°51′20.15″E / 31.9767278°S 132.8555972°ECoordinates: 31°58′36.22″S 132°51′20.15″E / 31.9767278°S 132.8555972°E |
Established | 11 November 1993 |
Area | 11,854 hectares (29,290 acres) |
Managing authorities | Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources |
See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
Chadinga Conservation Park, formerly the Chadinga Conservation Reserve, is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in the Chadinga Dunes on the western side of Lake MacDonnell, in the locality of Penong.
The conservation park covers 11,854 hectares (45.8 sq mi) of coastal dunes, containing a lake and areas of Mallee scrub. It is commonly called "Tuckamore" by local people. The dunes extend up to 3 km inland and form a habitat for the spinifex hopping mouse. The conservation park has no visitor facilities, although bush camping is permitted.
Within the conservation park is found the Dinosaur Ant (Nothomyrmecia macrops), noted as a "living fossil". The lake is the largest of several salt lakes in the area - others include Red Lake (a small section of Lake MacDonnell cut off by the Penong to Point Sinclair/Cactus Beach road) and Blue Lake, a smaller lake to the south of Lake MacDonnell.
The conservation park is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area.