Lyla Lindsey
Lake Eyre, officially known as Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, is a great salt lake in central South Australia. It is the largest ephemeral playa on the Australian continent. The shallow lake is the lowest point on the Australian continent, at approximately 15 m (49 ft) below sea level. When the lake is full, it covers an area of up to 9,500 km2 (3,668 sq mi) and is the largest lake in Australia. The lake is normally dry and empty, but it fills completely on average twice a century, with partial, minor fillings happening much more often.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Eyre is located in the northern part of South Australia, in the southern part of the Australian desert region known as the Lake Eyre basin. |
| Size | Lake Eyre is the largest lake in Australia and one of the largest in the world. It has a surface area of about 9,690 square kilometers (3,745 sq mi) and a maximum depth of about 1.5 meters (5 feet). |
| Depth | The lake is very shallow, with an average depth of only about 0.4 meters (1.3 feet). The depth can vary significantly depending on rainfall and evaporation rates. |
| Salt Content | Lake Eyre is a hypersaline lake, with salt concentrations ranging from 200 to 300 parts per thousand (ppt). For context, the ocean has a salinity of about 35 ppt. |
| Climate | The lake is located in an arid region with a hot desert climate. Average annual rainfall in the area is low, ranging from 100 to 250 millimeters (4 to 10 inches). |
| Flooding | Despite the arid climate, Lake Eyre periodically experiences significant flooding events due to heavy rainfall in its vast catchment area. These events can turn the lake from a dry salt flat into a vibrant aquatic ecosystem. |
| Ecology | The lake and its surrounding region support a diverse range of plant and animal life, including several endemic species. It is an important habitat for waterbirds, and the flooding events support the growth of algae, bacteria, and aquatic plants. |
| Human Impact | Human activities, such as agriculture and water extraction, have impacted the lake's ecosystem and water levels. Efforts are being made to manage and conserve the lake's environmental and cultural values. |
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What You'll Learn
Lake Eyre's size when full
Lake Eyre, officially known as Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, is a large endorheic lake in the deserts of central Australia, in northern South Australia. It is the largest lake in Australia, with an estimated surface area of 9,500 km2 (3,668 sq mi) when completely filled with water. However, the lake is rarely filled with water, only a few times per century, as it is located in the desert and the region has very low and intermittent rainfall, amounting to less than 5 inches (125 mm) annually.
The lake has two main sections: Lake Eyre North, which is 144 km long and 65 km wide, and Lake Eyre South, which is 65 km long and 24 km wide. These sections are joined by the narrow Goyder Channel. When the lake is full, it has the same salinity as seawater. However, as the lake dries up and the water evaporates, it becomes hypersaline.
The water levels in Lake Eyre depend on the annual monsoon and the amount of rainfall in its catchment area in Queensland and the Northern Territory. The lake is fed by rivers from the northeast, which flow through the Channel Country. The amount of water from the monsoon determines whether the lake will fill and how deep it will get. In addition to monsoon rains, local rain can also fill the lake to a depth of 3–4 m (9.8–13.1 ft), as occurred in 1984 and 1989.
The filling of Lake Eyre is a rare event, and when it does occur, it can have a transformative effect on the surrounding area. For example, during the 1989-1990 flood, an estimated 200,000 pelicans (80% of Australia's total population) came to feed and nest at the lake. Huge flocks of birds, including banded stilt, congregate to feed on brine shrimp and lay eggs. The lake is also a popular destination for sailors, with the Lake Eyre Yacht Club organising trips to sail on the lake's floods when water levels are high.
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The lake's depth
Lake Eyre, officially known as Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, is a large salt lake in central South Australia. It is the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world, with a total area of 4,281 square miles (11,088 square km) according to one source, and 9,700 km2 (3,668 sq mi) according to another. The lake is normally dry, filling completely only twice in a century on average, and partial fillings occur more often. The lake is fed by the Warburton River and other rivers that flow towards it from the north-east during the rainy season.
The lake is the depocentre of the vast endorheic Lake Eyre Basin, which is one of the world's largest internally draining river systems. The basin spans 1.2 million km2, almost one-sixth of Australia, and includes large parts of South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland, as well as a small portion of western New South Wales. The lowest point in the lake is about 15 metres (49 feet) below sea level, making it the lowest natural point in Australia.
The depth of the lake can vary depending on rainfall and flooding. In 2009, the Lake Eyre flood peaked at 1.5 metres (5 feet) deep in late May, which was a quarter of its maximum recorded depth of 6 metres (20 feet). This was caused by massive floods in the Georgina River, with 9 km3 (2 cu mi) of water crossing the Queensland–South Australian border. However, due to very low rainfall in the lower reaches of the river, most of the water soaked into the desert or evaporated before reaching the lake, leaving less than 4 km3 (0.96 cu mi) in the lake.
In April 2025, it was predicted that floodwaters from Queensland and local rainfall would result in the lake reaching its deepest levels in 15 years around late May to June. Upstream river levels were higher than in previous flood events, with Birdsville reaching 8.75 metres (28.7 feet) and Windorah recording flood levels approaching those of 1974, Australia's wettest year on record. These floods are essential for the ecosystem, and the native Arabana people hold the native title over the lake and surrounding region.
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The lake's location
Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre is located in the deserts of central Australia, in the Far North region of South Australia. It is about 700 km (435 mi) north of Adelaide. The lake is situated in the southwestern corner of the Great Artesian Basin, a closed inland basin that covers an area of around 440,150 square miles (1,140,000 square km) and is drained only by intermittent streams. The basin is part of a large endorheic system known as the Lake Eyre Basin, which spans almost one-sixth of Australia, covering 1.2 million km2. This system includes large parts of South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland, as well as a small portion of western New South Wales.
The Lake Eyre Basin is characterised by its low elevation, with the lake itself containing the lowest natural point in Australia, approximately 15 m (49 ft) below sea level. The lake is divided into two sections: Lake Eyre North and Lake Eyre South. These sections are joined by the narrow Goyder Channel. The surrounding region is managed in partnership with the Arabana and Dieri people, who hold the native title over the lake and surrounding areas.
Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre National Park, located on the shores of the lake, offers a unique camping experience. The park is accessible via two pastoral tracks suitable for 4WD vehicles and provides a stark wilderness experience, with salt-crusted plains that occasionally transform into immense wetlands after heavy rains. The park features ancient red dunes, rare wildlife, and a rich Aboriginal heritage. Campgrounds with basic facilities, such as toilets and picnic shelters, can be found at Halligan Bay Point and Muloorina Station within the park. There are also campgrounds with more advanced facilities, including showers, located at Marree, William Creek, and Coward Springs outside the park.
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The lake's salinity
Lake Eyre, officially known as Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, is a great salt lake in central South Australia. It is the largest salt lake in Australia. The lake is normally dry and fills completely only twice in a century on average, but partial fillings happen much more frequently. When the lake is full, it has the same salinity as seawater. However, as the lake dries up and the water evaporates, its salinity increases, causing a massive fish kill.
The lake is located in the most arid part of Australia, with an average annual rainfall of 140 mm and an evaporation rate of 2.5 m. The lake is fed by a vast internal continental drainage basin, but the region's high evaporation rates cause most of the rivers in the basin to dry up before reaching the lake. The thin salt crust of Lake Eyre thickens in the lake's southern portions, reaching up to 18 inches (46 cm) in thickness.
The salinity of the lake has significant ecological implications, particularly for the fish species that inhabit it. As the salinity increases during evaporation, it can be fatal to the fish. This dynamic between the lake's water levels and salinity creates a unique and challenging environment for the flora and fauna that depend on it.
The native title over the lake and its surrounding region is held by the Arabana people. The lake is also recognised for its importance to waterbirds in Australia. The natural moisture areas around the lake, such as the Coongie Lakes, are vital for attracting and supporting large flocks of waterbirds during breeding seasons.
The salinity of Lake Eyre is a critical aspect of its ecology and natural history. The interplay between the lake's water levels and salinity creates a dynamic and ever-changing environment that shapes the flora and fauna's survival strategies in this arid region of Australia.
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The lake's history
Lake Eyre, officially known as Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, is an endorheic lake in the east-central part of the Far North region of South Australia. It is the largest salt lake in Australia, lying in the southwestern corner of the Great Artesian Basin, a closed inland basin drained only by intermittent streams. The lake is most often empty, with water evaporating very rapidly.
The lake was first sighted by a European in 1840. English explorer and British colonial official Edward John Eyre, after whom it was named, was the first European to see it. It was officially renamed in December 2012 to include its Aboriginal name, Kati Thanda, in accordance with a policy of dual naming. The native title over the lake and surrounding region is held by the Arabana people. The area is rich in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal history.
The lake is divided into two sections, Lake Eyre North and Lake Eyre South, which together span an area of 11,088 square kilometres. They are joined by the narrow Goyder Channel. The lake is the depocentre of the vast endorheic Lake Eyre basin, which is one of the world's largest internally draining river systems. The basin includes large parts of South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland, and a small portion of western New South Wales.
The lake fills completely only an average of twice in a century, but partial, minor fillings happen much more often. When completely filled, as in 1950, 1974, and 1984, the lake takes about two years to dry up again. The lake is fed by a vast internal continental drainage basin, but evaporation rates in the region are so high that most of the rivers in the basin dry up before reaching the lake. The thin salt crust of Lake Eyre thickens in the lake’s southern portions, where it is as much as 18 inches (46 cm) thick. The extremely level surface of the salt crust has been used in attempts to break world land-speed records, notably in 1964, when Donald Campbell drove at a speed of more than 400 miles (644 km) per hour in Bluebird II.
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Frequently asked questions
When empty, Lake Eyre covers an area of 4,281 square miles (11,088 square km). When full, it covers an area of up to 9,500 km2 (3,668 sq mi) or 9,700 km2.
Lake Eyre fills up completely only twice per century on average. Partial fillings happen much more often.
When completely filled, it takes about two years for the lake to dry up.
The maximum recorded depth of Lake Eyre is 6 m (20 ft).
