Lake Pedder
| Lake Pedder | |
|---|---|
Lake Pedder, ca. 1970
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| Location | South West Tasmania |
| Coordinates | 42°56′S 146°08′E / 42.933°S 146.133°ECoordinates: 42°56′S 146°08′E / 42.933°S 146.133°E |
| Lake type |
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| Basin countries | Australia |
| Surface area | 242 km2 (93 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 13–16 m (43–52 ft) (new) |
| Max. depth |
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| Water volume | 2.9 km3 (0.70 cu mi) |
| Islands |
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Lake Pedder, once a natural lake, is a man-made impoundment and diversion lake located in the southwest of Tasmania, Australia. In addition to its natural catchment from the Frankland Range, the lake is formed by the 1972 damming of the Serpentine and Huon rivers by the Hydro Electric Commission of Tasmania for the purposes of hydroelectric power generation.
As a result, the flooded Lake Pedder now has a surface area of approximately 242 square kilometres (93 sq mi) and it is the largest freshwater lake in Australia.
In early 20th century the original lake was named after Sir John Pedder, the first Chief Justice of Tasmania. The name of the original lake was officially transferred to the new man-made impoundment. Although the new Lake Pedder incorporates the original lake, it does not resemble it in size, appearance or ecology.
The new lake consists of an impoundment contained by three dams:
The dams were designed and constructed by Tasmania's Hydro Electric Commission (HEC) as part of the Upper Gordon River hydro-electric generation scheme. The aim of this scheme was to increase Tasmania's capacity to generate hydro-electricity in accordance with the Tasmanian Government's policy of attempting to attract secondary industry to the State with the incentive of cheap renewable energy.
The new Huon Serpentine impoundment, which filled after the dams were completed in 1972, drains into Lake Gordon via the McPartlan Pass Canal at 42°51′4″S 146°11′2″E / 42.85111°S 146.18389°E. Together, the lakes form the biggest water catchment and storage system in Australia.
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