Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine

Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine are two crater lakes that lie west of Cairns in northern Queensland, Australia. They are on the Gillies Highway in the fertile plateau known as the Atherton Tableland. Both lakes have walls of soft volcanic ash covered with tropical rain forest. Lake Eacham is about 2,500 feet (760 meters) above sea level. It covers 126 acres (51 hectares) and is an average of 225 feet (69 meters) deep. Lake Barrine, 3 miles (5 kilometers) to the north of Lake Eacham, is the largest lake on the Atherton Tableland. It is 257 acres (104 hectares) in area and about 360 feet (110 meters) deep.

Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine were originally declared national parks in 1934. In 1988, Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine became part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Site. The Wet Tropics of Queensland area stretches along the northeast coast of Australia for about 280 miles (450 kilometers). This area is largely made up of rain forests. It includes a wide range of plant and animal species (kinds), many of which are rare or endangered. In 1994, Lake Eacham National Park and Lake Barrine National Park were combined to form Crater Lakes National Park.

Crater Lakes National Park is an important center of recreation and tourism. The national park is home to many species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Australia’s largest snake, the amethystine, or scrub, python, inhabits the area and can reach about 16 feet (5 meters) long.

See also Atherton Tableland ; Queensland .