Mount Gambier (pop. 26,734) is a city in South Australia. It stands near the border with Victoria, more than 285 miles (460 kilometers) southeast of Adelaide. Mount Gambier lies in a prosperous agricultural district, and its industries are based on the products of the surrounding region. It has textile industries, timber mills, meat-processing plants, and dairy factories. Many tourists visit the area.
Mount Gambier takes its name from an extinct volcano near the town. Beautiful lakes have formed in the collapsed craters of the volcano. The Blue Lake changes its color from gray to blue in November each year. It remains blue until about March, when it resumes its gray color. The cause of the change is unknown. The countryside around the volcano is covered with a layer of weathered ash and lava that makes the soil highly fertile.
