Yalgorup National Park forms part of the Peel-Yalgorup System, which is classified as a Ramsar Wetland Site and is included on the List of Wetlands of International Importance. The Convention on Wetlands was signed in Ramsar in Iran in 1971 and is an intergovernmental treaty which provides a framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
The name Yalgorup is a composite of the Aboriginal words ‘yalgor’ (swamp or lake) and ‘up’ (a place). Yalgorup National Park is home to 10 lakes that form distinctive lines that run parallel to the coast:
- Lake Preston
- Swan Pond
- Duck Pond
- Boundary Lake
- Lake Pollard
- Martin’s Tank Lake
- Lake Yalgorup
- Lake Hayward
- Newnham Lake
- Lake Clifton
Yalgorup National Park contains a diverse array of birdlife, as well as the unique stromatolites and thrombolites that are found along the eastern side of Lake Clifton.
The stromatolites and thrombolites are rock-like structures that are made up of cyanobacteria and other microscopic organisms that flourish in the unique physical and chemical environment of Lake Clifton. Like Hamelin Pool in the Shark Bay Heritage Precinct, Lake Clifton is one of the few environments in Western Australia that supports the growth of thrombolites.
The thrombolites are best viewed in March and April.
Location: Yalgorup National Park is located 50 kilometres south of Mandurah, on the western edge of the Swan Coastal Plain.
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