Lake Burrendong

Lake Burrendong is a man-made reservoir located in the central west region of New South Wales, Australia.

It was created by Burrendong Dam, which impounds the waters of the Macquarie and Cudgegong rivers, as well as Meroo Creek. The lake has a capacity of approximately 1,189,000 megalitres, making it one of the largest inland waterways in New South Wales. It covers a surface area of 8,900 hectares and is a popular recreation area for locals and tourists.

Visitors to Lake Burrendong can enjoy fishing for a variety of fish species, including golden perch, Murray cod, and catfish. The lake also offers opportunities for water sports such as boating, kayaking, and water skiing. Surrounded by natural bushland, it is an ideal location for bushwalking and birdwatching.

The construction of Burrendong Dam began in 1946 and was completed in 1967. Its primary purpose was to provide irrigation water for the Macquarie Valley and regulate the flow of the Macquarie River. In 2019, during a drought, Lake Burrendong dried up, revealing the remains of a former town that was submerged when the dam was built. These ruins serve as a haunting reminder of the past.