Tuggerah Lake

Tuggerah Lake
Tuggerah Lake as viewed from Craigie Park in Kanwal. The Entrance is also visible in the distant background.
Location	Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	33°19′S 151°29′E / 33.317°S 151.483°E / -33.317; 151.483Coordinates: 33°19′S 151°29′E / 33.317°S 151.483°E / -33.317; 151.483
Type	Intermittently open intermediate wave dominated barrier estuary
Primary inflows	Wyong River
Primary outflows	The Entrance, Tasman Sea, South Pacific Ocean
Catchment area	714.5 square kilometres (275.9 sq mi)
Basin countries	Australia
Surface area	80.8 square kilometres (31.2 sq mi)
Average depth	2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in)
Water volume	193,231.2 megalitres (6,823.90×10^6 cu ft)
Surface elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Settlements	The Entrance, Wyong
Website	NSW Environment & Heritage webpage
References

Tuggerah Lake, an intermittently open intermediate wave dominated barrier estuary that is part of the Tuggerah Lakes, is located within the Central Coast Council local government area in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The lake is located near Wyong and is situated about 90 kilometres (56 mi) north of Sydney.

Drawing its catchment from the Wyong River, Ourimbah Creek and Tumbi Creek, at the southern half of Tuggerah Lake, the lake is generally quite shallow with an average depth of 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in). It is connected with the Tasman Sea through a tidal channel at its southern end known as The Entrance. It is also connected with two smaller lakes, Budgewoi Lake and through that to Lake Munmorah. Tuggerah Lake has a catchment area of 714 square kilometres (276 sq mi) and a surface area of 81 square kilometres (31 sq mi). When full, Tuggerah Lake covers an area of around 5,400 hectares (13,000 acres).

Heavy rains in June 2007 caused Tuggerah Lake to flood, affecting areas of Long Jetty, Killarney Vale and Chittaway Point. On the sea side of the peninsula is Norah Head and its historic lighthouse.

The lake adjoins extensive areas of suburban development. Much of the original settlement bordering the lake was oriented towards domestic tourism; with Sydney residents drawn to the area and staying in camp and early cabin-style accommodation clustered around towns of The Entrance and Long Jetty, from there spreading to Toukley on the northern lakeshore.