Lake Gairdner
| Lake Gairdner | |
|---|---|
 Extreme southern reaches of Lake Gairdner | |
| 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 |
Lake Gairdner (31°34′S 136°00′E / 31.567°S 136.000°E) is a large endorheic lake in central South Australia, and is considered the third largest salt lake in Australia when it is flooded.[1]
The lake is over 160 km (99 mi) long and 48 km (30 mi) across with salt over 1.2 metres (4 ft) 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 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.
- ↑ Rita Amend (2015). "Lake Gairdner - Gawler Ranges". Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- ↑ Kimberley Robertson (15 March 2010). "Tourism operator says the road to Lake Gairdner is shocking". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 March 2015.