The Ord River is a 320-kilometre (200 mi) long river in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The river's catchment covers 46,100 square kilometres (17,799 sq mi). The Ord River Irrigation Scheme was built in stages during the 20th century. Australia's largest artificial lake by volume, Lake Argyle was completed in 1972. The lower reaches of the river support an important wetland area known as the Ord River Floodplain, a protected area which contains numerous mangrove forests, lagoons, creeks, flats and extensive floodplains.