| Lake Albacutya (Ngelbakutya) | |
| Location: | Albacutya, Victoria |
| Pushpin Map: | Australia Victoria |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Coordinates Footnotes: | [1] |
| Coords: | -35.7558°N 141.9744°W |
| Type: | Eutrophic |
| Inflow: | Outlet Creek |
| Outflow: | Outlet Creek (when full); evaporation |
| Catchment: | 23500km2 |
| Basin Countries: | Australia |
| Length: | 13km (08miles) |
| Width: | 5km (03miles) |
| Area: | 55km2 |
| Depth: | 8m (26feet) |
| Max-Depth: | 8m (26feet) |
| Volume: | 230GL |
Lake Albacutya (Wergaia: Ngelbakutya)[2] is an ephemeral lake located in Albacutya within the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia. It is one of a series of terminal lakes on the Wimmera River, which form the largest land-locked drainage system in Victoria. Lake Albacutya is designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.[3]
On the occasions that there is an overflow from Lake Hindmarsh to the south, water enters Outlet Creek, (Wergaia: Krumelak) which then feeds Lake Albacutya. When full, Lake Albacutya covers 5500ha, is 8m (26feet) deep, and holds around 230GL of water.
The lake generally fills and empties on a 20-year cycle, the longest dry period on record being 27 years.[4] In 2011 it was reported that the lake had not received any inflow for some years and remained dry throughout the wetter years of 2011–2012.[5]
Being less saline than Lake Hindmarsh, Lake Albacutya supports a denser cover of vegetation during its dry phase.[6]