Piccaninnie Ponds

Piccaninnie Ponds is a karst wetland system located in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia. The system is known for its crystal-clear freshwater springs, underwater caves, and diverse range of aquatic life. It is a popular destination for snorkeling and cave diving.

Geography[edit | edit source]

Piccaninnie Ponds is situated near the town of Mount Gambier, approximately 30 kilometers southeast of the city center. The wetland system covers an area of about 850 hectares and consists of three main features: the East and West Ponds, and the Chasm.

East and West Ponds[edit | edit source]

The East and West Ponds are shallow, open bodies of water fed by freshwater springs. The East Pond is the larger of the two and is surrounded by a dense ring of reed vegetation.

The Chasm[edit | edit source]

The Chasm is a deep, underwater sinkhole that extends to a depth of over 100 meters. It is a popular site for cave diving, with divers attracted by the clear waters and the dramatic underwater landscapes.

Ecology[edit | edit source]

Piccaninnie Ponds supports a diverse range of aquatic life, including several species of fish, crustaceans, and amphibians. The clear waters of the ponds also support a variety of submerged aquatic plants.

Conservation[edit | edit source]

Piccaninnie Ponds is protected as a Conservation Park under the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The park is managed by the Department for Environment and Water.

Recreation[edit | edit source]

Piccaninnie Ponds is a popular destination for recreational activities such as snorkeling and cave diving. The clear waters and diverse aquatic life make it a popular spot for underwater photography.

See also[edit | edit source]

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v t e Protected areas of South Australia
National parks	Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary–Winaityinaityi Pangkara Belair Canunda Cleland Coffin Bay Coorong Dhilba Guuranda-Innes Flinders Chase Deep Creek Glenthorne National Park–Ityamaiitpinna Yarta Gawler Ranges Great Australian Bight Marine Ikara-Flinders Ranges Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Lake Frome Lake Gairdner Lake Torrens Lincoln Malkumba-Coongie Mount Remarkable Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert Murray River Naracoorte Caves Nullarbor Nilpena Ediacara Onkaparinga River Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges Wapma Thura–Southern Flinders Ranges Witjira
Conservation parks	Aberdour Acraman Creek Aldinga Scrub Althorpe Islands Angove Avoid Bay Islands Baird Bay Islands Bakara Bandon Bangham Barwell Bascombe Well Baudin Baudin Rocks Beachport Beatrice Islet Belt Hill Beyeria Big Heath Billiatt Bimbowrie Bird Islands Black Hill Black Rock Boondina Breakaways Brookfield Bullock Hill Busby Islet Butchers Gap Calectasia Calpatanna Waterhole Cap Island Cape Blanche Cape Gantheaume Cape Willoughby Caralue Bluff Carappee Hill Carcuma Caroona Creek Carpenter Rocks Carribie Chadinga Charleston Christmas Rocks Clements Gap Clinton Cocata Cooltong Corrobinnie Hill Cox Scrub Cromer Cudlee Creek Custon Cygnet Estuary Danggali Darke Range Desert Camp Dingley Dell Douglas Point Dudley Eba Island Elliot Price Eric Bonython Ettrick Ewens Ponds Fairview Ferguson Ferries-McDonald Finniss Fort Glanville Fowlers Bay Franklin Harbor Furner Gambier Islands Gawler Ranges Geegeela Giles Glen Roy Goose Island Gower Grass Tree Greenly Island Guichen Bay Gum Lagoon Gum Tree Gully Hacks Lagoon Hale Hallett Cove Hanson Scrub Heggaton Hesperilla Hincks Hogwash Bend Hopkins Creek Horsnell Gully Ironstone Hill Jip Jip Kaiserstuhl Kapunda Island Karte Kathai Kellidie Bay Kelly Hill Kelvin Powrie Kenneth Stirling Kinchina Kulliparu Kungari Kyeema Lake Frome Lake Gilles Lake Hawdon South Lake Newland Lake St Clair Lashmar Lathami Laura Bay Lawari Lesuer Leven Beach Lincoln Lipson Island Little Dip Lowan Lower Glenelg River Maize Island Lagoon Malgra Mamungari Mantung Marino Mark Oliphant Marne Valley Martin Washpool Martindale Hall Mary Seymour Media Island Messent Middlecamp Hills Mimbara Minlacowie Moana Sands Mokota Monarto Monarto Woodlands Montacute Moody Tank Morgan Morialta Mount Billy Mount Boothby Mount Brown Mount Dutton Bay Mount George Mount Magnificent Mount Monster Mount Scott Mount Taylor Mowantjie Willauwar Mullinger Swamp Munyaroo Murrunatta Mylor Myponga Nene Valley Nepean Bay Neptune Islands Newland Head Ngarkat Ngaut Ngaut Nicolas Baudin Island Nixon-Skinner Nuyts Archipelago Nuyts Reef Olive Island Padthaway Pandappa Para Wirra Paranki Lagoon Parndana Peachna Peebinga Pelican Lagoon Penambol Penguin Island Penola Piccaninnie Ponds Pigface Island Pike River Pine Hill Soak Pinkawillinie Point Bell Point Davenport Point Labatt Pooginook Poonthie Ruwe Porter Scrub Pualco Range Pullen Island Pureba Ramco Point Ramsay Red Banks Reedy Creek Ridley Rilli Island Rocky Island (North) Rocky Island (South) Roonka Rudall Salt Lagoon Islands Sandy Creek Sceale Bay Scott Scott Creek Seal Bay Searcy Bay Seddon Shannon Sheoak Hill Simpson Sinclair Island Sir Joseph Banks Group Sleaford Mere Spring Gully Spring Mount Stipiturus Swan Reach Talapar Talisker Tallaringa Tantanoola Caves Telford Scrub The Dutchmans Stern The Knoll The Pages The Plug Range Thidna Tilley Swamp Torrens Island Troubridge Island Tucknott Scrub Tumby Island Venus Bay Verran Tanks Vivigani Ardune Vivonne Bay Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Wahgunyah Waitpinga Waldegrave Islands Wanilla Wanilla Land Settlement Warren Warrenben West Island Wharminda Whidbey Isles White Dam Whyalla Wiljani Wills Creek Winninowie Wittelbee Woakwine Wolseley Common Yalpara Yeldulknie Yulte Yumbarra
Game reserves	Bool Lagoon Bucks Lake Chowilla Currency Creek Lake Robe Loch Luna Moorook Mud Islands Poocher Swamp Tolderol
Recreation parks	Anstey Hill Blackwood Forest Brownhill Creek Caratoola Cobbler Creek Granite Island Greenhill Long Island O'Halloran Hill Onkaparinga River Shepherds Hill Sturt Gorge Totness
Regional Reserves	Chowilla Innamincka Nullarbor Strzelecki Yellabinna
Conservation reserves	Bernouilli Buckleboo Bunbury Bunkers Cortlinye Cox Scrub Cunyarie Desert Camp Hardings Springs Lacroma Moongi Mootra Pinkawillinie Reservoir Poolgarra Tola Former conservation reserves
Wilderness Protection Areas	Billiatt Cape Bouguer Cape Gantheaume Cape Torrens Danggali Hambridge Hincks Investigator Group Memory Cove Nullarbor Nuyts Archipelago Ravine des Casoars Western River Yellabinna
Other protected areas	Arkaroola Protection Area
Former protected areas	Investigator Group Isles of St Francis Katarapko Mount Rescue Mount Shaugh Port Gawler Scorpion Springs Telowie Gorge
Related topics	Marine protected areas of South Australia List of protected areas in Adelaide