View source for Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

{{Short description|National park in Tasmania, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name            = Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park
| photo           = Cradle Mountain Behind Dove Lake.jpg
| photo_caption   = [[Cradle Mountain]] and Little Horn (to the left) by [[Dove Lake (Tasmania)|Dove Lake]]
| photo_alt       = 
| iucn_category   = II
| iucn_ref        = 
| coordinates     = {{coord|41|49|49|S|145|55|27|E|display=inline,title}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-shape = yes
| map             = Tasmania
| map_alt         = 
| map_width       = 200px
| relief          = yes
| label           = Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park
| label_position  = 
| location        = [[Tasmania]]
| established     = 1922
| area_ha         = 
| area_km2        = 1614.43
| area_ref        = <ref name="TASParksList">{{cite web|url=https://parks.tas.gov.au/about-us/managing-our-parks-and-reserves/reserve-listing|title=Reserve Listing – National Parks|publisher=Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania|work=National Parks website|access-date=22 May 2009}}</ref>
| visitation_num  = 209000
| visitation_year = 2005
| visitation_ref  = 
| website         = https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/cradle-mountain
| nearest_city    = [[Queenstown, Tasmania|Queenstown]]
| nearest_town    =
| governing_body  = Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
}}
'''Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park''' is located in the [[Central Highlands, Tasmania|Central Highlands]] area of [[Tasmania]] ([[Australia]]), {{convert|165|km|||}} Northwest of [[Hobart, Australia|Hobart]]. The park contains many walking trails, and is where hikes along the well-known [[Overland Track]] usually begin. Major features are [[Cradle Mountain]] and Barn Bluff in the Northern end, [[Mount Pelion East]], [[Mount Pelion West]], [[Mount Oakleigh]] and [[Mount Ossa (Tasmania)|Mount Ossa]] in the middle and [[Lake St Clair, Tasmania|Lake St Clair]] in the Southern end of the park. The park is part of the [[Tasmanian Wilderness|Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area]].

== History ==

=== Use by Aboriginal Nations ===
Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park lies on the boundary between the Big River and Northern [[Aboriginal Tasmanians|Tasmanian Aboriginal]] nations. Aboriginal use of the Cradle Mountain dates back to the last ice age (10,000 years ago) and is believed to have been non-permanent, consisting mostly of seasonal hunting excursions during the summer months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=3309|title=Cradle Mountain|website=Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania}}</ref> Several artifacts and campsites containing various stone types and tools have been discovered at [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pelion_Plains_Lake_Ayr_and_Mt_Pillinger_from_Pelion_West.jpg Pelion Plains] and [[Lake St Clair (Tasmania)|Lake St Clair]], and early surveyors reported huts in the area. Aboriginal Tasmanians were persecuted by the European settlers upon their arrival, and the last free Aboriginals in the area were seen between Barn Bluff and Lake Windemere in 1836.<ref name=mt>{{cite thesis|title=Tourism and bushwalking in the Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park: Context, characteristics and impacts |url=https://eprints.utas.edu.au/15754/2/Byers_whole_thesis.pdf |type=Masters |last=Byers |first=Michael Charles |date=1996 |publisher=The University of Tasmania}}</ref>

=== Early European Development ===
Europeans first explored Cradle Mountain in 1827 and 1828 with [[Joseph Fossey]] and [[Henry Hellyer]] surveying for the [[Van Diemen's Land Company]]. Lake St Clair was sighted by surveyor William Sharland in 1832, with [[George Frankland]] leading an expedition to it three years later.<ref name=mt/>

During the late 19th century there was an effort to build a railway to the west coast of Tasmania, which at the time was only accessible by boat. Railway engineer Allan Stewart began surveying a route which led up the [[Mersey River (Tasmania)|Mersey Valley]], but ran out of money before it could be completed. Parts of his trail were used by the Innes track (est. 1897), which led to the mining town of [[Rosebery, Tasmania|Rosebery]].<ref name=mt/>

These tracks encouraged prospecting, and several mines were set up including coal near Barn Bluff, copper in Pelion Plains, Lake Windemere and Commonwealth Creek, tin in Mount Inglis, and tungsten in the Forth Valley. Lake Windemere and Old Pelion huts were established during this mining effort.<ref name=mt/>

Trappers worked in the area from the 1860s until the collapse of the [[fur trade]] in the 1950s, although hunting in the park was declared illegal after 1927. They established huts, including Du Cane and Pine Valley, and [[Firestick farming|burned the land]] to encourage fresh growth and game.<ref name=mt/>

During the same timeframe Pelion Plains was used by sheep and cattle for grazing in the summer, and wild cattle lived in the area until 1948. The cattle were reportedly quite aggressive, and known to attack early bushwalkers.<ref name=mt/>

=== Environmental Protection and Tourism ===
Both Lake St Clair and Cradle Mountain were regarded by European settlers as attractive destinations, with tourist lodges at each location.<ref name=mt/>

In the 1910s [[Gustav Weindorfer|Gustav]] and [[Kate Cowle]] began campaigning for the area from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair to be a national park. It was declared a scenic reserve in 1922, a wildlife reserve in 1927 and its current designation of national park from 1947. During this transition, former trappers began building huts and guiding bushwalkers, including Paddy Hartnett, Weindorfer and Bob Quaile.

In the 1970s management of the park passed to the newly formed [[Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service]] after the controversial flooding of [[Lake Pedder]].<ref name=parks>{{cite web |title=Overland Track: Draft Recreation Zone Plan 2006 |url=https://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=6789 |publisher=Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania |access-date=20 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209071504/https://parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=6789 |archive-date=9 December 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=mt/>

== Access ==
Access from the south (Lake St. Clair) is usually from [[Derwent Bridge, Tasmania|Derwent Bridge]] on the [[Lyell Highway]]. Northern access (Cradle Valley) is usually via [[Sheffield, Tasmania|Sheffield]], [[Wilmot, Tasmania|Wilmot]] or Mole Creek. A less frequently used entrance is via the Arm River Track, from the east.

=== Usage fee ===
In 2005, the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service introduced a booking system and fee for use of the Overland Track over peak periods. Initially the fee was $100, but this was raised to $150 in 2007, and as at May 2023 is $200.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/cradle-mountain/overland-track | title=Overland Track |author=National Parks website|access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref> The money that is collected is used to finance the park ranger organisation, track maintenance, building of new facilities and rental of helicopter transport to remove waste from the toilets at the huts in the park.

=== Development ===
The [[Tasmanian Government]] has moved to allow development in national parks and conservations areas. An 'In principle' permit has been granted for the establishment of an 'eco-friendly' resort at Pumphouse Point at Lake St Clair.

{{wide image|Pelion Range from Mt Oakleigh.jpg|1000px|Panorama of the Pelion Range from Mount Oakleigh, Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair National Park}}

== Climate ==
{{Weather box
|location = Cradle Valley, Tasmania
|single line = y
|metric first = y
|Jan record high C = 30.0
|Feb record high C = 30.5
|Mar record high C = 25.1
|Apr record high C = 20.0
|May record high C = 17.8
|Jun record high C = 11.1
|Jul record high C = 11.5
|Aug record high C = 12.7
|Sep record high C = 17.9
|Oct record high C = 19.9
|Nov record high C = 22.0
|Dec record high C = 27.0
|year record high C = 30.5
|Jan high C = 16.6
|Feb high C = 17.0
|Mar high C = 14.4
|Apr high C = 10.8
|May high C = 7.9
|Jun high C = 5.1
|Jul high C = 4.6
|Aug high C = 4.9
|Sep high C = 7.5
|Oct high C = 10.5
|Nov high C = 12.8
|Dec high C = 15.2
|year high C = 10.6
|Jan low C = 5.2
|Feb low C = 5.9
|Mar low C = 4.7
|Apr low C = 3.1
|May low C = 1.5
|Jun low C = -0.2
|Jul low C = -0.2
|Aug low C = -0.5
|Sep low C = 0.3
|Oct low C = 1.5
|Nov low C = 2.5
|Dec low C = 4.1
|year low C = 2.3
|Jan record low C = -1.0
|Feb record low C = -1.9
|Mar record low C = -2.5
|Apr record low C = -4.0
|May record low C = -8.3
|Jun record low C = -8.3
|Jul record low C = -7.8
|Aug record low C = -8.5
|Sep record low C = -8.0
|Oct record low C = -5.0
|Nov record low C = -3.5
|Dec record low C = -1.3
|year record low C = -8.5
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 148.8
|Feb rain mm = 121.9
|Mar rain mm = 148.1
|Apr rain mm = 204.1
|May rain mm = 276.4
|Jun rain mm = 272.3
|Jul rain mm = 315.7
|Aug rain mm = 301.7
|Sep rain mm = 269.4
|Oct rain mm = 252.4
|Nov rain mm = 205.1
|Dec rain mm = 181.7
|year rain mm = 2815.8
|source = Bureau of Meteorology<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_096005_All.shtml
|title = Climate Statistics for Cradle Valley, Tasmania
|access-date = 6 March 2019}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = Lake St. Clair National Park, Tasmania
|single line = y
|metric first = y
|Jan record high C = 33.0
|Feb record high C = 31.9
|Mar record high C = 30.2
|Apr record high C = 23.2
|May record high C = 21.7
|Jun record high C = 14.2
|Jul record high C = 13.1
|Aug record high C = 17.0
|Sep record high C = 20.4
|Oct record high C = 25.7
|Nov record high C = 28.0
|Dec record high C = 32.6
|year record high C = 33.0
|Jan high C = 19.3
|Feb high C = 19.2
|Mar high C = 16.6
|Apr high C = 13.0
|May high C = 10.3
|Jun high C = 7.7
|Jul high C = 7.3
|Aug high C = 8.2
|Sep high C = 10.0
|Oct high C = 12.6
|Nov high C = 15.5
|Dec high C = 17.3
|year high C = 13.1
|Jan low C = 6.3
|Feb low C = 5.9
|Mar low C = 4.2
|Apr low C = 2.8
|May low C = 1.6
|Jun low C = 0.2
|Jul low C = -0.1
|Aug low C = 0.3
|Sep low C = 0.9
|Oct low C = 2.0
|Nov low C = 3.6
|Dec low C = 5.0
|year low C = 2.8
|Jan record low C = -2.5
|Feb record low C = -4.0
|Mar record low C = -4.1
|Apr record low C = -5.0
|May record low C = -6.0
|Jun record low C = -7.0
|Jul record low C = -7.2
|Aug record low C = -7.0
|Sep record low C = -6.2
|Oct record low C = -6.5
|Nov record low C = -4.0
|Dec record low C = -2.6
|year record low C = -7.2
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 101.7
|Feb rain mm = 83.6
|Mar rain mm = 107.1
|Apr rain mm = 135.0
|May rain mm = 157.1
|Jun rain mm = 172.8
|Jul rain mm = 205.3
|Aug rain mm = 247.6
|Sep rain mm = 217.2
|Oct rain mm = 175.2
|Nov rain mm = 136.2
|Dec rain mm = 130.8
|year rain mm = 1868.3
|source = Bureau of Meteorology<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://reg.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_096071_All.shtml
|title = Climate Statistics for Lake St. Clair National Park, Tasmania
|access-date = 26 February 2012}}</ref>
}}

== Biodiversity ==
[[File:Fauna de Tasmania10.JPG|thumbnail|Wombat in the National Park]]
[[File:Wallaby-fighting-Tasmania.jpg|thumbnail|Two male [[red-necked wallaby|red-necked wallabies]] fighting near Mount Ossa]]
The Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park is a significant location of Tasmania's endemic species – 40–55% of the park's documented [[alpine plant|alpine flora]] is endemic. Furthermore, 68% of the higher rainforest species recorded in alpine areas in Tasmania are present in the Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park. The park's alpine vegetation is very diverse and has largely escaped forest fires that have caused neighbouring regions to suffer.

Animals present in the park include: [[Tasmanian pademelon]]s, [[red-necked wallaby|Bennett's wallabies]], [[quoll]]s, [[Tasmanian devil]]s, [[short-beaked echidna]]s, [[platypus]]es, [[common wombat]]s, [[Phalangeriformes|possum]]s, [[forest raven]]s and [[currawong]]s.

=== Birds ===
The park has been identified as an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) because it provides habitat for 11 of Tasmania's [[endemism|endemic]] bird species, as well as for the [[flame robin|flame]] and [[pink robin]]s and the [[striated fieldwren]]. The IBA is important as a representative protected area in north-central Tasmania for those species.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |title=IBA: Cradle Mountain |access-date=16 June 2011 |work=Birdata |publisher=Birds Australia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706102341/http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |archive-date=6 July 2011 }}</ref>

=== Fungi ===

Fungi are also a part of the Park's biodiversity. While the [http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=6158 Management Plan for Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park] only mentions fungi in the context of their destructive effects (''[[Phytophthora cinnamomi]]'' and ''Chalara australis''), the Park has a great variety of fungi that perform beneficial ecological roles. In fact, most fungi perform positive rather than negative roles. Even parasitic fungi – often regarded only negatively – are a vital part of healthy ecosystems, regulating ecosystem functions.

As primary recyclers of organic matter, saprobic fungi break down fallen branches and leaf litter, making vital nutrients available to other organisms. Other fungi form symbiotic relationships with other organisms. Although rarely acknowledged, the great majority of plants in Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park (indeed in the world) form mutually beneficial [[mycorrhiza]]l relationships with fungi.

Given the great diversity of plants, specialist habitats and micro-climates in the park, a great diversity of fungi, including lichens, is also expected to occur there. Several hundred species have already been recorded by field naturalists and interested individuals and can be found in the [http://www.ala.org.au/ Atlas of Living Australia.]

Despite their essential roles in underpinning terrestrial ecosystems, fungi are barely recognised as a vital part of Australia's biodiversity. Although Australia has national and state level biodiversity conservation strategies and has ratified international conventions, most overlook fungi, including [http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/conservation/natural-heritage-strategy-%282013-2030%29 Tasmania's Natural Heritage Strategy], which only makes one generic reference to fungi.[[File:Cortinarius metallicus.jpg|thumb|''Cortinarius metallicus'']]

[[File:Aurantiporus pulcherrimus APP6306.jpg|thumb|''[[Tyromyces pulcherrimus]]'']]One of the more a conspicuous species found in the wetter parts of the park is the strawberry bracket fungus (''[[Tyromyces pulcherrimus]]''). It grows on myrtle beech (''[[Nothofagus cunninghamii|Nothofagus cunninghammii]]'') and [[Eucalyptus pauciflora|snow gums]]. The Australian citizen-science organisation, [http://fungimap.org.au/ Fungimap] is documenting and mapping the distribution of fungi including those that occur in National Parks. ''[[Cortinarius metallicus]]'' is a mycorrhizal species also found in the park.

== In film ==
This area was used to film scenes for the prehistoric life documentaries ''[[Walking with Dinosaurs]]'' and ''[[When Dinosaurs Roamed America]]''.

== See also ==
* [[Gustav Weindorfer]]
* [[Protected areas of Tasmania]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Chapman, John, Monica Chapman and John Siseman (2006) ''Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair and Walls of Jerusalem National Parks'' 5th ed. Laburnum, Vic. : J. Chapman. {{ISBN|1-920995-01-3}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park}}
{{wikivoyage|Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park}}
* [https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/lake-st-clair Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service page about Lake St. Clair]
* [https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/cradle-mountain Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service page about Cradle Mountain]
* [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/181 UNESCO's World Heritage List web page for the Tasmanian Wilderness]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070423220704/http://www.aussieheritage.com.au/listings/tas/Cradle%20Valley/CradleMountainLakeStClairNationalPark/12665 An article touching on the park's flora]

{{National parks in Tasmania}}
{{CentralHighlandsTasmania |state=autocollapse}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park| ]]
[[Category:Central Highlands (Tasmania)]]
[[Category:National parks of Tasmania]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1922]]
[[Category:Wilderness areas of Tasmania]]
[[Category:1922 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Tasmania]]
[[Category:Meander Valley Council]]