Lake Gairdner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lake Gairdner
Location Central South Australia
Coordinates 31°34′S 136°00′ECoordinates: 31°34′S 136°00′E
Lake type endorheic, salt lake
Basin countries Australia
Extreme southern reaches
Extreme southern reaches

Lake Gairdner (31°34′S, 136°00′E) is a large endorheic lake in central South Australia, and is considered the fourth largest salt lake in Australia when it is flooded.

The lake is over 160 km (100 miles) long and 48 km (30 miles) across with salt over 1.2 metres (4 feet) thick in some places. It is located west of Lake Torrens, 150 km northwest of Port Augusta and 440 km northwest of Adelaide. It is located in 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. It has been a site for various land speed record attempts on its salt flats.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links