Lake Torrens

Lake Torrens

Stuart Creek with Lake Torrens in the backgound
Location South Australia
Coordinates 31°02′40″S 137°51′35″E / 31.04444°S 137.85972°ECoordinates: 31°02′40″S 137°51′35″E / 31.04444°S 137.85972°E
Type salt lake
Basin countries Australia
Max. length 250 km (160 mi)
Max. width 30 km (19 mi)
Surface area 5,745 km2 (2,218 sq mi)
Surface elevation 30 m (98 ft)

Lake Torrens is an ephemeral salt lake in central South Australia.

The lake lies between the Arcoona Plateau to the west and the Flinders Ranges to the east about 345 kilometres (214 mi) north of Adelaide. Lake Torrens is approximately 30 m above sea level.[1] It is located within the boundaries of Lake Torrens National Park.[2]

It stretches approximately 250 kilometres (155 mi) in length[3] and 30 kilometres (19 mi) in average width. It is Australia's second largest lake when filled with water[3] and encompasses an area of 5,745 square kilometres (2,218 sq mi).[4][5]

Approximately 35,000 years ago, the lake water was fresh to brackish, but has become increasingly saline since.[4] The traditional owners of the area are the Arabunna peoples to the north, the Kokatha to the west and the Kyuni to the east. The first European to see the lake was Edward Eyre in 1839 who spotted the salt bed from Mount Arden at the head of the Spencer Gulf. Eye named the lake after Colonel Robert Torrens[6] who was one of the founders of the South Australian colony.

The lake filled in 1897 and again in April 1989.[4] It has a thin salt crust with red-brown clays beneath, which are soft and boggy. The area around the lake is sparsely vegetated with samphire, saltbush and bluebush.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Barker, McCaskill & Ward, p.173, 1995
  2. ↑ "Lake Torrens National Park". Government of South Australia]]. 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Lake Torrens National Park". Explore Australia. 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 John K. Warren (12 June 2006). Evaporites:Sediments, Resources and Hydrocarbons: Sediments, Resources, and Hydrocarbons. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 201. ISBN 9783540323440.
  5. ↑ "Largest Waterbodies". Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  6. ↑ PlaceNames Online - South Australian State Gazetteer Site is a searchable database. Accessed 3 April 2012.