Willandra Lakes Region

The Willandra Lakes Region is a World Heritage Site that covers 2,400 square kilometres in south-western New South Wales, Australia. It includes important natural and cultural features. The lakes were formed about two million years ago, but are now dry.[1] The Australian Aborigines camped around the lakes, especially in the sand dunes on the lake shores for at least 50,000 years.[1] These dunes are crescent shaped, and are called lunettes. The world's oldest cremation, of an woman more than 40,000 years ago, was found in a lunette at Lake Mungo.[1] A small section of the region is protected by the Mungo National Park. As well as Lake Mungo, there is also Lake Mulurulu which was the last lake to hold water, the Prungle lakes which have been dry for more than 20,000 years, and Lake Chibnalwood which has a 30 metre high lunette, one of the biggest in the world.[2]

Willandra Lakes Region
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Willandra Lakes.png
Part of the Willandra Lakes system:
  1. Lake Mulurulu
  2. Willandra Creek
  3. Garnpung Lake
  4. Lake Leaghur
  5. Lake Mungo
  6. Lake Arumpo
  7. Chibnalwood Lakes
LocationFar West, New South Wales, Australia
CriteriaCultural and Natural: (iii)(viii)
Reference167
Inscription1981 (5th Session)
Area240,000 ha (590,000 acres)
Coordinates34°S 143°E / 34°S 143°E / -34; 143Coordinates: 34°S 143°E / 34°S 143°E / -34; 143

The Willandra Lakes Region was added to the Australian National Heritage List in May 2007.[3]

Map of the Willard’s Lakes Region, showing the World Heritage Area boundaries, 2008

Movies

Willandra Lakes Region Media

Related pages

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Willandra Lakes Region". environment.gov.au. 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  2. "Willandra Lakes Region - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  3. "Willandra Lakes". Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

Other websites