Lake Magenta
Encyclopedia
Lake Magenta is an ephemeral salt
lake
in the Wheatbelt area of Western Australia
.
The lake is located approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) North East of Jerramungup
and approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) West of Ravensthorpe
.
The lake is part of the Lake Magenta Nature Reserve
as is the bushland to the West of the lake. The area is in relatively pristine condition and contains a rich array of flora
and fauna
. Water quality
and the health of vegetation began to decline in the area as the salinity
of surface runoff
has begun to increase and groundwater
levels have begun to rise.
The lake has a wetland area located to the South with two other lakes, Lake Morris and Lake Cobham to the East. Lake Lockhart is located a less than a kilometer to the North.
The lake is a broad flat-floored valley with long paleo-drainages to the North and more steeply incised drainage lines to the South.
The soils in the area are described as siliceous and calcareous loam
y soils of minimal development. The rest of the area is composed of hard and sandy alkaline yellow and mottled sands.
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the Wheatbelt area of 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...
.
The lake is located approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) North East of Jerramungup
Jerramungup, Western Australia
Jerramungup is a Western Australian town located in the Great Southern agricultural region, southeast of Perth just west of the Gairdner River. The town of Jerramungup was established in 1953 as a war service settlement area...
and approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) West of Ravensthorpe
Ravensthorpe, Western Australia
Ravensthorpe is a town 541 km south east of Perth, 40 km inland from the south coast of Western Australia. It is the seat of government of the Shire of Ravensthorpe...
.
The lake is part of the Lake Magenta Nature Reserve
Lake Magenta Nature Reserve
Lake Magenta Nature Reserve is a 1080 km2 nature reserve, making it one of the largest such reserves in the Avon Wheatbelt region of Western Australia...
as is the bushland to the West of the lake. The area is in relatively pristine condition and contains a rich array of flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
. Water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
and the health of vegetation began to decline in the area as the salinity
Salinity
Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water. It is a general term used to describe the levels of different salts such as sodium chloride, magnesium and calcium sulfates, and bicarbonates...
of surface runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
has begun to increase 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...
levels have begun to rise.
The lake has a wetland area located to the South with two other lakes, Lake Morris and Lake Cobham to the East. Lake Lockhart is located a less than a kilometer to the North.
The lake is a broad flat-floored valley with long paleo-drainages to the North and more steeply incised drainage lines to the South.
The soils in the area are described as siliceous and calcareous loam
Loam
Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils...
y soils of minimal development. The rest of the area is composed of hard and sandy alkaline yellow and mottled sands.