Lake Thetis

Fascinating structures called stromatolites at Lake Thetis provide insights into what life was like at the dawn of time.

Like the famous stromatolites of Hamelin Pool in Shark Bay, the rock-like structures on the edge of Lake Thetis are built by micro-organisms too small for the human eye to see. Within the structures are living communities of diverse inhabitants with population densities of 3000 per square metre!

The stromatolite-building micro-organisms of Lake Thetis resemble the earliest forms of life on Earth. The discovery of modern examples helped scientists to understand the significance of micro-organisms in the environment and unravel the long history of life on Earth. Today, living examples of these once completely dominant organisms are restricted to only a few places.

An easy 1.5 kilometre trail around the shores of the lake provides opportunities to see and learn about these communities and the interesting environment that supports them. The first 300 metres of an accessible boardwalk passes the best examples of stromatolites in the lake. For more information visit TrailsWA.

This information was provided by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions: dpaw.wa.gov.au