AN AUSTRALIAN NOTE

Canberra

When the Australians decided to have a federal capital, they decided to build Canberra.  However, there was some debate over what the name of the new capital might be.  Zoological interests were represented by those who wanted to call the new city Kangaremu, but this was not to be and in 1913 the city received the official name of Canberra.

The city contains Lake Burley Griffin, named after the city's architect.  The lake is artificial, created in 1963.  This was done by the damming of the River Molongo.  Despite this body of water's artificiality and comparatively recent construction, it has been suggested that it contains an unknown animal.  Strange turbulence was observed in the lake in the year 2000.  Could some creature that had been in the Molongo have been trapped in the lake?  In 1886 a strange animal the size of a dog had been reported in the Molongo.  Could a creature of this species be found in Lake Burley Griffin?