Lake Eacham
(Yidam)
Lake Eacham: Geological History: - Lake Eacham is an extinct volcanic crater lake filled with cool, clean, crystal clear
water, surrounded by 1200acres of lush tropical highland rainforest.
- Massive blocks were thrown up as a phreatic explosion created this maar.
Aboriginal History: - A Ngadjonji story describes the creation of three volcanic crater lakes- Yidam (Lake Eacham), Barany (Lake Barrine) and Ngimun (Lake Euramoo).
- Two men were trying to spear a wallaby when they accidentally speared a tree, by doing so they broke a taboo and angered the rainbow serpent, a major spirit of the area. The earth roared like thunder and the winds blew like a cyclone. The ground began to twist and crack and there were red clouds in the sky that had never been seen before. People ran from side to side but were swallowed by a crack which opened in the earth and drowned them all, which is now known as Lake Eacham'
- Interestingly, in the course of this story, the country is described not as rainforest but as open scrub. This observation is supported by pollen records suggesting the rainforest formed on the tablelands only around 7600 years ago.
General Information: - Lake Eacham is the most popular swimming spot in all of the Atherton Tablelands.
- The lake is sixty five
metres deep with a pontoon and children's pool available, offering excellent conditions for swimming, wading, canoeing or kayaking.
- A large picnic area with plenty of covered wood and electric BBQ sites makes the lake
front ideal for family outings.
- There is an excellent three kilometre rainforest walking track around the lake's edge, where many native mammals and birds can be spotted which are endemic to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA).
- Over 180 bird species have been recorded in and around the lake.
- A 700 metre self guided rainforest walking track leading from the National Parks
Headquarters on Mcleish Road to the lake itself.
- A one kilometre rainforest track to the Eacham Waterfalls offers exceptional
photographic opportunities.
- For those who are not able to experience the walking tracks, there is a beautiful
rainforest drive that will take you through the World Heritage rainforest that surrounds
Lake Eacham.
- Lake Eacham and the surrounding rainforest area (from Cooktown to Townsville) were proclaimed to be within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area criteria in 1988. These criteria recognise the area’s exceptional natural beauty and the importance of its biological diversity and evolutionary history, including habitats for numerous threatened species. The WTWHA also has cultural significance for Aboriginal people who have traditional links with the land and its surrounds.
- The National Parks and Wildlife Office for the Crater Lakes National Park is situated at the rainforest edge on McLeish road and has a pleasant self guided 700 metre walking trail to the lake front of Lake Eacham.
- The National Parks office includes an information
centre which caters for people interested in learning more about the crater lake history,
rainforest ecology, birds and animals of the area.
- The most striking aspect of this particular crater lake is the peace and serenity that
accompany all it offers you.
- It is truly a magnificent and worthwhile experience.
- Lake Eacham is a short peaceful walk from the Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges.
Climate: - Rainfall:
- Approximately 1500mm annually.
- The wet season is between December and March.
- March is usually the wettest month and August/September is the driest.
- Temperature:
- Average of 250c, usually between 200c and 300c, but can drop to 100c - 120c.
- The light and wind is filtered by the Rainforest Canopy resulting in cool, moist conditions.
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