Lakes Argyle & Kununurra. 07/06/90; Western Australia; 150,000 ha; 16°19'S 128°44'E. A large system of human-made freshwater reservoirs and associated permanent wetlands formed by damming the Ord River. Vegetation consists of aquatic plants fringed by grassland, typha and savannah woodland. The lakes are an important dry season refuge for waterbirds, with numbers regularly exceeding 20,000 individuals. The area is notable for numerous endemic plants and a rich fauna. The site is increasingly important for recreation and tourism, with controlled diamond exploration and mining constituting the principal human activities. Ramsar site no. 478. Most recent RIS information: 1998.