Environment

Physiography

The Lake Mountain plateau 120 km north east of Melbourne is one of the southern most sub-alpine areas on the Australian continent. The Lake Mountain massif is an undulating plateau 1340m through to 1480m, which trends north/north west from the Great Dividing Range.

At 1340m Lake Mountain is not viable for alpine skiing as its steeper slopes are below the snow line but its high altitude plateau incorporates an excellent Nordic ski trail system.

Flora and Fauna

Some 1050 native flowering plants and fern species have been recorded in the Victorian high country. They include 92 grasses, 64 sedges, 79 orchids, 34 wattles, 38 eucalypts, 22 beard-heaths and 18 buttercups. The alpine flora also displays about 150 introduced species.

To simplify flora and fauna descriptions the Alps are divided into 3 basic vertical zones; alpine, sub-alpine and montane forest. As climatic conditions and altitude change from zone to zone so do the flora and fauna species type living in that zone.

Visitors are reminded that dogs and cats are banned at Lake Mountain

The water supply at Lake Mountain. The water supply at Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is drawn from the Echo Flat area of the ski trails. This is an unprotected catchment that is the headwaters of the Taggerty river. Under the provisions of section 6 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Minister for Health has declared the water to be  regulated water not suitable for drinking. Bottled drinking water is available at the visitor centre