Hutt Lagoon
Encyclopedia
Hutt Lagoon is a salt lake
located near the coast just north of the mouth of the Hutt River
, in midwest Western Australia
.
The lake is about 14 kilometres in length along its long axis which is oriented in a north-west directionn, parallel with the coast. It is around 2 kilometres wide. Its area is about 2500 hectares.
of the Hutt River, but became a deadwater
, and was eventually completely sealed off from the river by a sandbar. The river mouth is now around 2 kilometres south of the lagoon, and the only inflow to the lake is from rain
, some minor creeks, and groundwater
seepage. Depth is highly seasonal; when full it is about a metre deep.
, a salt lake with a red or pink hue due to the presence of carotenoid
-producing algae
, in this case Dunaliella salina
. About 50 hectares of Hutt Lagoon have been converted to ponds for growing and harvesting this algae, which is of commercial importance as a source of beta carotene.
The Hutt Lagoon comprises most of the Hutt Lagoon System, a DIWA
-listed wetland system that also takes in a number of adjacent small lakes, such as Utcha Swamp.
Salt lake
A salt lake or saline lake is a landlocked body of water which has a concentration of salts and other dissolved minerals significantly higher than most lakes . In some cases, salt lakes have a higher concentration of salt than sea water, but such lakes would also be termed hypersaline lakes...
located near the coast just north of the mouth of the Hutt River
Hutt River (Western Australia)
Hutt River is a river in the Mid West region of Western Australia.The river rises near the North West Coastal Highway between the towns of Northampton and Binnu and east of Hutt...
, in midwest Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Geography
Nominally located at 28°08′S 114°13′E, Hutt Lagoon is an elongate lake that sits in a dune swale adjacent to the coast. The town of Gregory is located between the ocean and the lake's southern shores, and the road to Kalbarri, George Grey Drive, runs along its western edge.The lake is about 14 kilometres in length along its long axis which is oriented in a north-west directionn, parallel with the coast. It is around 2 kilometres wide. Its area is about 2500 hectares.
Hydrology
It was probably once the estuaryEstuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
of the Hutt River, but became a deadwater
Deadwater (topography)
A deadwater is that part of an estuary through which there is little to no water flow.In situations where a river flow is weaker than the marine processes that build sand dunes, the river may be obstructed from flowing into the sea by the formation of a sand dune; that is, a sandbar. In such cases...
, and was eventually completely sealed off from the river by a sandbar. The river mouth is now around 2 kilometres south of the lagoon, and the only inflow to the lake is from rain
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
, some minor creeks, and groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
seepage. Depth is highly seasonal; when full it is about a metre deep.
Uses
Hutt Lagoon is a pink lakePink lake
A pink lake is a lake that has a red or pink colour due to the presence of algae that produces carotenoids, such as Dunaliella salina.Examples include Pink Lake, near Esperance, Western Australia; Hutt Lagoon in midwest Western Australia; and Lac Rose in...
, a salt lake with a red or pink hue due to the presence of carotenoid
Carotenoid
Carotenoids are tetraterpenoid organic pigments that are naturally occurring in the chloroplasts and chromoplasts of plants and some other photosynthetic organisms like algae, some bacteria, and some types of fungus. Carotenoids can be synthesized fats and other basic organic metabolic building...
-producing algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
, in this case Dunaliella salina
Dunaliella salina
Dunaliella salina is a type of halophile green micro-algae especially found in sea salt fields. Known for its anti-oxidant activity because of its ability to create large amount of carotenoids, it is used in cosmetics and dietary supplements. Few organisms can survive in such highly saline...
. About 50 hectares of Hutt Lagoon have been converted to ponds for growing and harvesting this algae, which is of commercial importance as a source of beta carotene.
The Hutt Lagoon comprises most of the Hutt Lagoon System, a DIWA
A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia
A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia is a list of wetlands of national importance to Australia. Intended to augment the list of wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, it was formerly published in report form, but is now essentially an online publication...
-listed wetland system that also takes in a number of adjacent small lakes, such as Utcha Swamp.