Yaté Lake
A reservoir in the red-earth south with drowned trees standing out of the water.
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Yaté Lake was created in the 1950s when the Yaté river was dammed for hydroelectricity, flooding a valley in the Great South and leaving the dead trunks of drowned trees standing out of the water, which is the image the lake is known for. The surrounding country is red laterite scrub with almost no settlement. The road round it is unsealed in places, and the Blue River park lies on its western side.
What you actually see
- The drowned trees - dead trunks standing out of the water across the lake.
- The red laterite - the nickel-rich soil colouring the country around.
- The dam - the 1950s hydroelectric structure that created the lake.
- The empty country - scrub with almost no settlement in any direction.
When to go
April to November is the dry cooler season. The Great South is wetter than the west coast. Roads are rough after rain.
Honest expectations
Roads around the lake are unsealed and rough in places. There are no facilities anywhere on the shore. Swimming is not advised in the reservoir.
Nearby
Madeleine Falls are west, and Prony is south.
What to pack for Yaté Lake
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.