Lake Kutubu
Encyclopedia
Lake Kutubu is a lake
in the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea
. It lies to the east of the Kikori River
, into which it eventually drains. It is about 50 km southwest of Mendi
, the provincial capital. It is one of the few lakes in the country that occurs in a depression in the rugged interior mountains. It is the second-largest lake in Papua New Guinea, after Lake Murray, and, at 800 m above sea level, the largest upland lake. The area of the lake is 49.24 km², while the total catchment
area is 250 km². Lake Kutubu and Lake Sentani form an ecoregion
on the WWF's Global 200
.
The lake has a few islands, the largest of which is Wasemi Island in its northern part. The water of Lake Kutubu is clear, and the lake reaches a depth of 70 m (230 feet). It is fed by several streams, most of its contents come from underground sources. The catchment is inhabited by two main ethnic groups, the Foe to the south and the Fasu to the north. Thirty-three villages lie in the catchment area, with a total estimated population of 10,885.
The lake gave its name to the nearby Kutubu Oil Project, Papua New Guinea's first commercial oilfield development, operated by Oil Search Limited
, and which began production in 1992. The development has supported the local economy, and caused a general in-migration to the area, and ecological problems resulting from rapid population growth, including pollution, forest destruction and overfishing. A proposed gas pipeline and road are expected to exacerbate these problems unless they are well-managed.
species, making it the most unusual lacustrine habitat for fishes in the New Guinea-Australia region. The endemic fish species include:
. The area included in this designation matches the Lake Kutubu Wildlife Management Area
(240.57 km²). The area is undergoing study by the World Wildlife Fund and the drafting of a catchment
management plan has commenced, which is anticipated to become a model for other catchments in Papua New Guinea. The project is to be completed by December 2007. The Lake Kutubu area is also included in the tentatively listed Kikori River Basin - Great Papuan Plateau
World Heritage Site
.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. It lies to the east of the Kikori River
Kikori River
The Kikori River is a river in southern Papua New Guinea on the island of New Guinea .The river is about long and flows southeast into the Gulf of Papua, with its delta at the head of the gulf. The settlement of Kikori lies on the delta.-References:...
, into which it eventually drains. It is about 50 km southwest of Mendi
Mendi
Mendi, Papua New Guinea, is the provincial capital of the Southern Highlands Province....
, the provincial capital. It is one of the few lakes in the country that occurs in a depression in the rugged interior mountains. It is the second-largest lake in Papua New Guinea, after Lake Murray, and, at 800 m above sea level, the largest upland lake. The area of the lake is 49.24 km², while the total catchment
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
area is 250 km². Lake Kutubu and Lake Sentani form an ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
on the WWF's Global 200
Global 200
The Global 200 is the list of ecoregions identified by the World Wildlife Fund as priorities for conservation. According to the WWF, an ecoregion is defined as a "relatively large unit of land or water containing a characteristic set of natural communities that share a large majority of their...
.
The lake has a few islands, the largest of which is Wasemi Island in its northern part. The water of Lake Kutubu is clear, and the lake reaches a depth of 70 m (230 feet). It is fed by several streams, most of its contents come from underground sources. The catchment is inhabited by two main ethnic groups, the Foe to the south and the Fasu to the north. Thirty-three villages lie in the catchment area, with a total estimated population of 10,885.
The lake gave its name to the nearby Kutubu Oil Project, Papua New Guinea's first commercial oilfield development, operated by Oil Search Limited
Oil Search Limited
Oil Search Limited is the largest oil and gas exploration and development company incorporated in Papua New Guinea, which operates all of Papua New Guinea's oilfields. Founded in 1929, it is now one of Papua New Guinea's largest companies, and in 2006 was responsible for 13% of Papua New Guinea's...
, and which began production in 1992. The development has supported the local economy, and caused a general in-migration to the area, and ecological problems resulting from rapid population growth, including pollution, forest destruction and overfishing. A proposed gas pipeline and road are expected to exacerbate these problems unless they are well-managed.
Fauna
Lake Kutubu includes 12 endemic fishFish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
species, making it the most unusual lacustrine habitat for fishes in the New Guinea-Australia region. The endemic fish species include:
- Kutubu tandan (Oloplotosus torobo)
- Lake Kutubu rainbowfish (Melanotaenia lacustris)
- Kutubu hardyhead (Craterocephalus lacustris)
- Adamson's grunter (Hephaestus adamsoni)
- Lake Kutubu mogurnda (Mogurnda kutubuensis)
- Blotched mogurnda (Mogurnda spilota)
- Variegated mogurnda (Mogurnda variegata)
- Sentani rainbowfish (Chilatherina sentaniensis)
Conservation
Because of its biodiversity and ecological significance, the area has been designated a "Wetland of International Significance" by the Ramsar ConventionRamsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
. The area included in this designation matches the Lake Kutubu Wildlife Management Area
Wildlife Management Area
Wildlife Management Areas are protected areas set aside in for the conservation of wildlife and for recreational activities involving wildlife.-United States:In the U.S., WMAs exist in the following states:* Alabama* Florida* Georgia* Louisiana...
(240.57 km²). The area is undergoing study by the World Wildlife Fund and the drafting of a catchment
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
management plan has commenced, which is anticipated to become a model for other catchments in Papua New Guinea. The project is to be completed by December 2007. The Lake Kutubu area is also included in the tentatively listed Kikori River Basin - Great Papuan Plateau
Great Papuan Plateau
The Great Papuan Plateau is a karst plateau in the Southern Highlands and Western Provinces of Papua New Guinea. It is bordered the upper stretches of the Kikori River and the Strickland River on the east and west, respectively, and the Karius Range, the southern edge of the highlands, including...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
External links
- Lake Kutubu Catchment Management Plan: Project Inception Report, also includes topographic map on Page 12
- Map of Lake Kutubu catchment produced by WWF
- Lake Kutubu - newest Ramsar site in Papua New Guinea
- Wetlands documentation page
