Willandra Lakes Region facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids
Willandra Lakes Region
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Part of the Willandra Lakes system: Lake Mulurulu Willandra Creek Garnpung Lake Lake Leaghur Lake Mungo Lake Arumpo Chibnalwood Lakes
Location	Far West, New South Wales, Australia
Criteria	Cultural and Natural: (iii)(viii)
Inscription	1981 (5th Session)
Area	240,000 ha (590,000 acres)

The Willandra Lakes Region is a World Heritage Site that covers 2,400 square kilometres in south-western New South Wales, Australia. It includes important natural and cultural features. The lakes were formed about two million years ago, but are now dry. The Australian Aborigines camped around the lakes, especially in the sand dunes on the lake shores for at least 50,000 years. These dunes are crescent shaped, and are called lunettes. The world's oldest cremation, of an woman more than 40,000 years ago, was found in a lunette at Lake Mungo. A small section of the region is protected by the Mungo National Park. As well as Lake Mungo, there is also Lake Mulurulu which was the last lake to hold water, the Prungle lakes which have been dry for more than 20,000 years, and Lake Chibnalwood which has a 30 metre high lunette, one of the biggest in the world.

The Willandra Lakes Region was added to the Australian National Heritage List in May 2007.