| Chadinga Conservation Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) [1] | |
  Chadinga Conservation Park | |
| Location | South Australia |
| Nearest city | Penong, South Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°58′36.22″S132°51′20.15″E / 31.9767278°S 132.8555972°E [1] |
| Area | 118.54 km2 (45.77 sq mi) [2] |
| Established | 11 November 1993 [2] |
| Governing body | Department for Environment and Water |
Chadinga Conservation Park, formerly the Chadinga Conservation Reserve, is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in the Chadinga Dunes on the western side of Lake MacDonnell, in the locality of Penong. [3] The park is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area. [1]
Contents
The conservation park covers 118.54 square kilometres (45.77 sq mi) of coastal dunes, containing a lake and areas of Mallee scrub. [2] It is commonly called "Tuckamore" by local people. The dunes extend up to 3 km inland and form a habitat for the spinifex hopping mouse. [4] The conservation park has no visitor facilities, although bush camping is permitted. [5]
The Dinosaur Ant ( Nothomyrmecia macrops ), noted as a "living fossil", is found within the conservation park. [6] The lake is the largest of several salt lakes in the area - others include Red Lake (a small section of Lake MacDonnell cut off by the Penong to Point Sinclair/Cactus Beach road) and Blue Lake, a smaller lake to the south of Lake MacDonnell.
