6. Western Plains (WP)
6.1 Volcanic plains
The most obvious features — scoria cones, lava shields, composite cones (of both scoria and lava), and maars — indicate the most recent eruptive activity. Mount Anakie (398 m) and Mount Elephant (393 m) on the eastern and western boundary of the Corangamite CMA region respectively, form the highest cones. Some of the maars have lakes in their wide craters, such as Lake Purrumbete, Lake Bullen Merri and Lake Gnotuk. The young volcanoes, with their craters, flows and ash deposits, are from less than one million years in age and were active almost up to the present day Associated soil types include shallow to moderately deep friable (black, red or brown) gradational soils (Dermosols, Ferrosols) often stony. |
The deep central crater and quarries at Mt Noorat. | Breached crater of Mount Elephant. | The Maar Crater Lakes of Bullen Merri (foreground) and Gnotuk. |