The Lake Urana Nature Reserve is a protected nature reserve situated adjacent to Lake Urana, a salt lake, that is located in the Riverina region of New South Wales in eastern Australia. The 302-hectare (750-acre) reserve is situated near the rural locality of Urana.[2] The 6,100-hectare (15,000-acre) lake is shallow and intermittently filled by flooding that forms in a natural depression. The lake fills every 10 to 20 years and retains water for several years; with no natural outflow, it is drained via evaporation.
Lake Urana Nature Reserve New South Wales | |
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IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve) | |
Lake Urana Nature Reserve | |
Nearest town or city | Urana[1] |
Coordinates | 35°16′30″S 146°9′11″E |
Established | April 1996 (1996-04)[2] |
Area | 3.02 km2 (1.2 sq mi)[2] |
Managing authorities | NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service |
Website | Lake Urana Nature Reserve |
See also | Protected areas of New South Wales |
Lake Urana | |
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Location | Riverina, New South Wales |
Coordinates | 35°17′S 146°11′E |
Lake type | Saline |
Primary inflows | Intermittent flooding from Cocketgedong Creek and Urana Creek |
Primary outflows | Evaporation |
Basin countries | Australia |
Surface area | 6,100 ha (15,000 acres)[3] |
Settlements | Urana |
References | [1][3] |
The woodland in the reserve includes yellow box and white cypress pine. Shrubs include thorny saltbush, ruby saltbush, western golden wattle, emu bush, and black cottongrass. Ground cover is made up of grasses and herbs, with over 70 species having been recorded, including wiregrass, speargrass, and nodding chocolate lily (Dichopogon fimbriatus).[4] On the shore is a narrow area of red gum woodland.
Fauna includes eastern grey kangaroos, and 37 bird species have been identified. When the lake floods, waterbirds such as wood ducks, Pacific black duck, Australian grey teal, yellow-billed spoonbill, black-fronted dotterel, and magpie larks visit.
Nature reserves of New South Wales, Australia | |
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Protected areas of New South Wales |
Lakes and other natural bodies of water in New South Wales, Australia | |
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