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Lake Tinaroo is a manmade Reservoir on the Atherton Tablelands , Queensland . The Dam was constructed between 1953 and 1958 on the Barron River close to Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham . HISTORY In 1952, The Tinaroo Dam and Mareeba-Dimbulah Irrigation Scheme was approved by the state government. Construction started on the dam was started in 1953 and completed in 1958, at a cost of $12,666,000. The dam in 45.1 metres high and traps enough water from the Baron River to creates a lake 3/4 the size of Sydney Harbor with a capacity of 407 000 Megalitres . When the lake was flooded in 1959, the township of Kulara near Yungaburra went underwater. The name "Tinaroo" James Mulligan was the first European explorer and prospector to visit the tablelands in 1875. The area is now called " ''The Atherton Tablelands'' " after John Atherton who settled at Emerald End Station , at the junction of Emerald Creek and the Barron River. It is reported through popular legend that upon discover Alluvial Tin at the headwaters of the creek, Mr Atherton shouted "''Tin, Harroo!!''" to his prospecting mate - hence the name. Unexpected flooding After the dam was completed in 1958, there was expected to be another few months before the annual rains to do some final earthworks at the base of the dam, and the clear out the final settlements in the area. Unfortunatly the rains began earlier than expected and to this day there are still some pieces of large construction equipment under water at base of the dam wall because they were not able to be removed in time. WATER USES Irrigation Covering almost 1200 square kilometres, the Mareeba-Dimbulah Irrigation Area is spread across the valleys of the Barron, Walsh and Mitchell Rivers. 415 square kilometres of farmland are irrigated by the lake when it supplies its 205,000 megalitres of water each year. Farmers access this water from the extensive network of 176 kilometres of channels using either a gravity fed system or pumps. Areas not serviced by the channels can draw water from streams that have their water replenished by the Barron River, which inturn is fed by the lake. Power generation The from entering the atmosphere each year. The dam is used to regulate the waterflow for use at the Barron Gorge Power Station . Urban water supply The townships of Tinaroo , Walkamin , Mareeba , Kuranda , Mutchilba , Dimbulah and Yungaburra are supplied from Tinaroo Dam through the Barron River. RECREATION Located on the picturesque Atherton Tablelands, with the Tinaroo Range and the Danbulla State Forest surrounding it, Lake Tinaroo provides a popular tourist attraction and recreation facility for over 500,000 people a year. Water sports With over 200 kilometres of shoreline, Lake Tinaroo offers many bays with smooth water that are protected from the wind. To this end, the lake is often used for Sailing , Water Skiing and Swimming . During the drought of the last few years, some of the trees that were flooded during the dam's creation have become a hazard to boats because of the receding waters. The park services that maintain the recreational areas of the dam have had to trim the dead trees that have appeared. Thankfully the dam's waters are now higher, so this is no longer a problem. Hiking The lake is surrounded by national park, rainforest, pine tree plantations and Australian "bush". Hiking paths wind in and out of the mountains surrounding the lake and range from a pleasant walk from the parking lot to the water front, to week long treks around the lake and its mountains. Fishing Many species of fish and other aquatic animals populate the lake. The ever popular Barramundi can grow to an enormous size in the lake because they have no natural predators (Except for the occasional speedboat). Each year, the lake is stocked with fresh baby "Barra" from the Walkamin Research Station because the fish are unable to breed due to the lack of access to Salt Water . Also on the menu at Lake Tinaroo are Eeltailed Catfish , Sooty Grunter , Sleepy Cod , Mouth Almighty , Archer Fish , Spangled Perch , Long Tom and many species of crayfish, including the Red Claw and Yabby . STATISTICS
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