Lake Pedder

Lake Pedder
Lake Pedder, c. 1970
Lake Pedder
Map showing Lake Pedder in Tasmania
Location	South West Tasmania
Coordinates	42°56′S 146°08′E / 42.933°S 146.133°E / -42.933; 146.133
Type	Until 1972: Natural, glacial outwash lake; Since 1972: Reservoir, artificial impoundment, diversion pond
Etymology	Sir John Pedder
Part of	Upper Gordon River hydroelectric generation scheme
Primary inflows	Frankland Range
River sources	Serpentine River Huon River
Primary outflows	Serpentine River Huon River
Catchment area	734 km2 (283 sq mi)
Basin countries	Australia
Construction engineer	Hydro Tasmania
First flooded	1972
Surface area	242 km2 (93 sq mi)
Average depth	13–16 m (43–52 ft) (as a reservoir)
Max. depth	+3 m (9.8 ft) (as a glacial lake); 43 m (141 ft) (as a reservoir)
Water volume	2.9 km3 (0.70 cu mi)
Surface elevation	300 m (980 ft)
Islands	2 (as a glacial lake); 45 (as a reservoir)
References	[1]

Lake Pedder, once a glacial outwash lake, is a man-made impoundment and diversion lake located in the southwest of Tasmania, Australia. In addition to its natural catchment from the Frankland Range, the lake is formed by the 1972 damming of the Serpentine and Huon rivers by the Hydro-Electric Commission for the purpose of hydroelectric power generation. Consequently, the lake is also known, somewhat derisively, as the Huon-Serpentine Impoundment.^[2]

As a result, the flooded Lake Pedder now has a surface area of approximately 242 square kilometres (93 sq mi), making it Tasmania's second largest lake.^[1][3][4]