 Mr.Garry Turner pointing to a calcified tree found in the Blue Lake |
One of the unsolved mysteries of our time is the reason why the
Blue Lake changes colour from a drab grey to a vivid blue each
November to March. Scientists and laymen have proposed many theories about this over the years. One suggests the water picks up a blue dye as it works its way through the porous limestone base; another, that microscopic organisms come to the surface as temperatures rise. The most likely theory is that light is scattered by calcium-carbonate which saturates the lake. |
As the temperature rises at the surface level it causes them to precipitate
out as extremely fine particles of a similar wavelength to blue light. This
causes a scattering of light at the blue end of the spectrum, making the lake
appear blue in much the same way as the sky appears blue by suspended particles
in the atmosphere. Whatever the reason, it is a fascinating experience to
observe the change, which happens over a few days in late November early
December.
The lake is in an extinct volcano which last erupted around 5,000 years ago.
The crater is approximately 5km. around and the lake has a varying surface area
of around 70 hectares. The water level is about 20 metres above sea level and 30
metres below the level of Mount Gambier's main street. It has a capacity of
36,000 megalitres (8,000 million gallons) and is South Australia's 3rd. largest
water storage area.
Myths about it being bottomless have been disproved, and it has average depth of
77 metres and a maximum of 197 metres. It is replenished by underground aquifers
which feed it through the porous limestone.
In 1882 work began on sinking a shaft to the edge of the Blue Lake and
construction of a waterworks; steam, pumping station, and a reservoir between
the Blue, and Leg of Mutton Lakes. Until then water had been drawn by hand and
windlass from wells, caves and lakes.
The Pumping station was completed in Oct. 1884 and serviced 18km. (11 miles) of
mains in Mount Gambier. Demand grew and in 1905 another reservoir was built next
to the original one.
In 1955 the pumping station was converted to electricity and extra pumps
provided a capacity of 490 litres per second. The present pumping station was
opened in 1972 and capacity was doubled to 1,230 litres per second. The station
has 3 pumps with provision for a 4th when necessary. It is open for public
inspection and the tour will show you this and many more interesting items.