Lake Murray (Papua New Guinea)
| Lake Murray | |
|---|---|
 Landsat image | |
  Lake Murray | |
| Location | Western Province |
| Coordinates | 7°00′S 141°30′E / 7°S 141.5°E |
| Primary inflows | June, Boi, Bwe, Kaim, Mamboi Rivers |
| Primary outflows | Herbert River → Strickland River → Fly River → Gulf of Papua |
| Basin countries | Papua New Guinea |
| Max. length | 63 km (39 mi) |
| Max. width | 18 km (11 mi) |
| Surface area | 647 km2 (250 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Shore length1 | 2,038 km (1,266 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 59 m (194 ft) |
| Settlements | Lake Murray |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
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, 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.
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.
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From space (false color)
Illegal logging[edit]
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)[edit]
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[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ CSIRO PUBLISHING - Marine & Freshwater Research
- ^ a b [1][dead link]
- ^ "Global Forest Rescue Station | Greenpeace International". Greenpeace.org. 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
- ^ "Ecoforestry: Taking back the forest". Greenpeace Australia Pacific. c. 2006. Archived from the original on September 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
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