Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre)

Geography and hydrology

Lake Eyre comprises two main basins, commonly known as North and South Lake Eyre, separated by a narrow neck. The full extent can reach roughly 144 km in length and 77 km in width at high water, figures often quoted in descriptions of the lake dimensions. The region receives very little local rainfall — about 100 mm per year on average — but the lake occasionally fills from rivers that drain an enormous inland catchment far to the north. Annual rainfall reference: 100 mm (see also 4 in for imperial units).

Sources of water and climate

Floodwaters arrive via long, episodic flows down channels such as Cooper Creek and the Diamantina and Georgina systems; these rivers carry runoff from more humid parts of inland Australia into the lake basin. Because evaporation is intense in the arid climate, large fills are temporary and often leave a thick layer of salt and minerals on the playa. The lake lies in the north of South Australia, a long distance from major population centres — roughly 700 km by road from Adelaide Adelaide and within the state of South Australia.

History and cultural significance

The lake was first recorded by Europeans during the explorations of Edward John Eyre in 1840; his name was later given to the feature and surrounding landscape European discovery. Long before European contact, the area was and remains culturally important to Aboriginal peoples, including the Arabana, for whom the name Kati Thanda denotes the salt lake. Indigenous knowledge and place names play an important role in understanding the lake’s history and seasonal rhythms.

Ecology, uses and protection

When Lake Eyre fills it supports spectacular biological events: waterbirds, notably pelicans and migratory species, may breed in large numbers and fish populations expand temporarily. The surrounding landscape is otherwise sparsely vegetated and used for extensive pastoralism and tourism rather than intensive agriculture. Much of the area is protected within the Lake Eyre National Park and attracts scientific interest for studies of desert hydrology, salt crust formation and episodic wetland ecology.

Notable facts

• Length and width conversions are sometimes given with both kilometres and miles.
• The lake is a prominent salt pan most of the time but can become a shallow inland sea after major floods.
• Its dual name recognises both European exploration and Indigenous connection to the land.