Lake Gairdner
| Lake Gairdner | |
|---|---|
|
Extreme southern reaches of Lake Gairdner | |
  Lake Gairdner Location in South Australia | |
| Location | Central South Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°34′S 136°00′E / 31.567°S 136.000°ECoordinates: 31°34′S 136°00′E / 31.567°S 136.000°E |
| Type | Endorheic, salt lake |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Designation | Lake Gairdner National Park |
| Max. length | 160 km (99 mi) |
| Max. width | 48 km (30 mi) |
Lake Gairdner is a large endorheic salt lake in central South Australia, to the north of the Eyre Peninsula. When in flood, the lake is considered the third largest salt lake in Australia.[1]
Description
The lake is over 160 km (99 mi) long and 48 km (30 mi) across with salt over 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in) thick in some places. It is located west of Lake Torrens, 150 kilometres (93 mi) northwest of Port Augusta and 440 kilometres (270 mi) northwest of Adelaide. It is located in the foothills on the northern side of the Gawler Ranges.
Lake Gairdner was named by the Governor of South Australia, Richard MacDonnell in October 1857 after Gordon Gairdner, a Chief Clerk of the Australian Department in the Colonial Office.
Together with Lake Everard and Harris and surround the area is part of Lake Gairdner National Park. The lakes were all once part of an inland sea that stretched all the way to the Gulf of Carpentaria.[2]
Six ephemeral creeks feed the lake including Garden Well Creek, Gorge Creek and Yeltabinna Creek.[3]
Salt Lake Racing
It has been a site for various land speed record attempts on its salt flats and is currently the location for the annual Speed Week event run by the Dry Lake Racers Australia.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ "Largest Waterbodies". Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- ↑ "Lake Gairdenr National Park". Explore Australia. 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- ↑ Amend, Rita (2015). "Lake Gairdner - Gawler Ranges". Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- ↑ Robertson, Kimberley (15 March 2010). "Tourism operator says the road to Lake Gairdner is shocking". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 March 2015.