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Lake Murray (Papua New Guinea)

Lake Murray is the largest lake in Papua New Guinea. It is located in Lake Murray Rural LLG, Middle Fly District, Western Province at 7°00′S 141°30′E / 7°S 141.5°E / -7; 141.5, which covers approximately 647 km2[1] and in the wet season increases to five times the size. It has a highly convoluted shoreline more than 2000 km long. The lake has been a source of nourishment for many of the local peoples. Freshwater sawfish have been caught in its shallow waters to feed the crocodiles in a farming operation.

Lake Murray
Landsat image of Lake Murray
Landsat image
Location of Lake Murray in Papua New Guinea
Location of Lake Murray in Papua New Guinea
Lake Murray
LocationWestern Province
Coordinates7°00′S 141°30′E / 7°S 141.5°E / -7; 141.5
Primary inflowsJune, Boi, Bwe, Kaim, Mamboi Rivers
Primary outflowsHerbert RiverStrickland RiverFly RiverGulf of Papua
Basin countriesPapua New Guinea
Max. length63 km (39 mi)
Max. width18 km (11 mi)
Surface area647 km2 (250 sq mi)
Max. depth10 m (33 ft)
Shore length12,038 km (1,266 mi)
Surface elevation59 m (194 ft)
SettlementsLake Murray
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Indigenous tribes of around 5000 people own the lake and the surrounding one million hectares of forest.[2]

Lake Murray is known for a large population of peacock bass that were introduced by Indian merchants.

Illegal logging

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In 2003, logging company Concord Pacific was forced out of the area by Greenpeace and other NGO's. 100,000 hectares of ancient forest was degraded by the logging along the Kiunga-Aiambak road.[2]

Greenpeace Global Forest Rescue Station (GFRS)

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Lake Murray was the site of a Greenpeace Australia Pacific Global Forest Rescue Station. Forty volunteers from 25 countries worked with the local Kuni, Begwa and Pari tribes to identify and mark land ownership.[3] The boundary marking was the precursor to a community based eco-forestry project.[4] Ecotimber has since been harvested, shipped to Australia and sold with the benefit of Forestry Stewardship Council certification.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ CSIRO PUBLISHING - Marine & Freshwater Research
  2. ^ a b [1][dead link]
  3. ^ "Global Forest Rescue Station | Greenpeace International". Greenpeace.org. 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  4. ^ "Ecoforestry: Taking back the forest". Greenpeace Australia Pacific. c. 2006. Archived from the original on September 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-09.