Tim the Yowie Man investigates the myths surrounding Lake George

Lake George

Despite confirmation that the water levels in Lake George are purely a factor of evaporation and rainfall, the strange spectacle of water bubbling out of an otherwise dry lake bed prompted a number of readers to rekindle fanciful theories about the lake's hydrology.

"Perhaps the Siberian lake is currently emptying," mused John Jones of Kambah referring to the unfounded hypothesis that as an un-named lake in Siberia (some even suggest the lake is in New Zealand!) fills, Lake George simultaneously empties and vice versa.

One Canberran particularly struck by the baffling sight of the water gurgling out of the lake near the Weereewa lookout on the Federal Highway at Geary's Gap is Martyn Silver, who spotted the phenomenon while enjoying a sunrise paraglide over the lake.

Intrigued as to the source of the HO, Silver promptly landed and recorded the bubbling water on his smart device. Although "tempted to entertain the fanciful folklore surrounding the lake's water levels", Silver suspects "it's probably just run-off via natural underground fissure from a nearby dam."

After examining the video, a Canberra-based hydrologist advises that Silver's footage "is probably fresh water flowing out of a spring, of which there are several along the western shore of the lake, fed from water flowing down from the Ordovician rocks to the west."

Further, according to my un-named source, apparently there are "wells" built around some of these springs on Lakes Road near Bungendore.

You can view Silver's footage online at canberratimes.com.au/act-news/by/Tim-the-Yowie-Man-hvf8o.

Broulee Island

Still on vanishing waters, this column's search for photographic evidence of Broulee Island, which is currently joined to the mainland, as a bona fide island girt by sea is now over thanks to several readers, including Neil Richards of Forde and Kevin Murphy of Red Hill.

Richards sent in several photos, including one of his dog Monty swimming in the channel between the island and mainland around 1989. "You can clearly see it is deep water, it wasn't possible to even wade there at low tide when the photos were taken," explains Richards, who also windsurfed in the channel when it was open.

Meanwhile, Murphy reports that in his house at Mossy Point (near Broulee) he has a frame containing three postcards featuring aerial photos of the island, "one shows it completely surrounded by sea (circa 1970), one shows a connection by an unvegetated sand spit, and the other shows it as it is today."

Easter page turner

If the amount of correspondence this column receives on Lake George and Broulee is any indication, then the just-released What Remains (Xlibris), Tracey Lee's first thriller novel, which is set in both locations, should be a hit with local readers.

What Remains documents the unexpected journey of self-discovery in which Lily O'Hara, a Canberra archivist and curator, attempts to solve the mystery disappearance of her brother and mother near their family home at Lake George in 1975, the year she was born.

The lake's moods become a barometer for Lily's state of mind as she wrangles with the past by examining the objects left behind by others, including her father, who took his own life when Lily was only nine months old.

If you want to forge an even closer affinity to Lily, who hunts down the truth with all the zeal of a dingo on heat, read it like I did at the very locations where the absorbing plot unfolds, including the rocky Lake George escarpment, the sunny sand dunes of Broulee and the National Museum of Australia. A compelling holiday read for the Canberraphile.

You can buy it in hard copy ($40), soft copy ($24) or for your Kindle ($5) via traceyplee.com.

Stunning Sculptures

While each spring Bondi woos art-lovers with Sculpture by the Sea, each Easter the sculpture show spotlight shines brightly on Jindabyne with Lake Light Sculpture, an exhibition of large sculptural pieces displayed along its iconic lake foreshore.

Earlier this week, this column stole a sneak peek at It's in my blood, one of several entries crafted by renowned high country artist Michael Scott Lees, whose stunning 2.4-metre diameter snowflake made of metal, crushed glass and resin symbolises the passion the renowned artist has for snow.

"It's about resort skiing, backcountry skiing, sitting in a ski lodge in front of a fire sipping on a wine it's in my blood and I call it home," reveals Lees, who by the time you are reading this, will have installed his striking sculpture in Lake Jindabyne.

By submerging the frame in the lake so that only the snowflake shows, Lees is "hoping that it will create some great reflections during the day and that at night, backlit and with a light in the water beneath it, the snowflake will appear as if it's rising out of the water."

I'd like to see that!

Lake Light Sculpture: Outdoor sculpture competition on the foreshore of Lake Jindabyne. 8am - 9pm each day this Easter long weekend. Visit the exhibition tent near the Strzelecki Monument at Banjo Paterson Park to collect an Event Guide (for a gold coin donation). Participate in the People's Choice Award or enter the kids in the Sculpture Trail Hunt.

Don't miss: The evening illumination where this year's record 75 sculptures will be enhanced by the Easter full moon reflection over the still waters of Lake Jindabyne. A photographer's delight.

Tim's Tip: Be sure to check-out Steve Croquett's Easter-Island style Heads Up, a modern caricature of the iconic monoliths of early civilisation.

Cryptic clue: Play croquet with Canberra's "stars".

Degree of difficulty: Medium to hard.

Last week: Congratulations to Daniel Hannan, of Nicholls, who was first to correctly identify last week's photo as a sign located beside the Southern Railway Line where it crests the Cullerin Range, about eight kilometres on the Yass side of Breadalbane (hence the clue relating to "bread").

Hannan beat other readers, including Sebastien Bignell, of Curtin, Tim Levy, of Civic, and John Cheeseman, of Farrer, to the prize. Cheeseman, a recently retired train driver, reports: "There was a small passenger platform at that location once but it was demolished in the 1970s. All that remains today is the sign just north of the level crossing where Olds Road crosses the railway line and joins Cullerin Road." The railway line is of still in regular use and, according to Cheeseman, "this location is well known to local train spotters as heavy freight trains have to work hard coming up the hill in both directions".

Of special note, some readers, including Geoff Wardrobe, of Gordon, Chris Longhurst, of Jerrabomberra, and Jeremy Wainwright, of O'Connor, nutted out the prize purely from internet research, including in the latter case, poring for hours over the Rail Access Corporation's voluminous Infrastructure Engineering Manual curve and gradient diagrams. Really!

Meanwhile, Gillian Malcolm, of Breadalbane, continued the trend in recent weeks of dedicated readers posing for selfies at the mystery location. "It was fun finding it again after spotting it a few years back to the way to a clearance sale," she reports.

How to enter: Email your guess along with your name and address to timtheyowieman@bigpond.com. The first email sent after 10am, Saturday March 26, 2016 with the correct answer wins a double pass to Dendy cinemas.

CONTACT TIM: Email: timtheyowieman@bigpond.com or Twitter: @TimYowie or write c/- The Canberra Times, 9 Pirie St, Fyshwick. You can see a selection of past columns here.

PS: Whether you are staying in Canberra, headed to the coast, the mountains or further afield, I wish all readers a happy and safe Easter.