Great Lake (Tasmania)

Great Lake
The northern end of the Great Lake
Location	Tasmania
Coordinates	41°52′S 146°45′E
Lake type	natural lake, reservoir
Primary inflows	Pine Rivulet, Breton Rivulet
Primary outflows	Shannon ->
Basin countries	Australia
Max. length	24.6 km (15.3 mi)
Max. width	12 km (7.5 mi)
Surface area	114 km2 (44 sq mi)
Surface elevation	1,030 m (3,380 ft)
Islands	Reynolds, Howells Neck, Pine, Helen, Kangaroo, Maclanachans Point Islands
Settlements	Miena, Breona, Liaweenee

The Great Lake is a half man made lake located in the central north region of Tasmania, Australia, within the sparsely inhabited Central Highlands municipality. Its original size was much smaller, it is dammed at its southern outflow for hydro-electricity production. It is Australia's second largest freshwater lake (Lake Pedder is considered to be the largest), 1,030 metres above sea level. The lake has an area of 114 km². It is used for hydro-electric power, fishing, and tourism.

Nearby towns Liaweenee and Miena are popular holiday shack destinations for local tourists, despite the area's reputation as being one of the coldest places in the generally mild-weathered state. During the winter months when the weather is hardly conducive to camping, the population of these two small towns drops to two or three hundred.

The Lake Highway runs along the west side of the lake.

Further reading

• Jetson, Tim (1989) The roof of Tasmania : a history of the Central Plateau. Launceston, Tas. : Pelion Press. ISBN 0731672143
• Tasmania. Hydro-Electric Commission (1925), The hydro-electric power of Tasmania : a description of the Great Lake Hydro-Electric Development and of the Tasmanian Electricity Supply System Published under authority, Hydro-Electric Department of Tasmania, Tait, Melbourne