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Located next to the Simpson, Stuart Stony, Strzelecki and Tirari Deserts in the far north of South Australia, Lake Eyre is Australia's largest salt lake (1.2 million hectares in size) and, when full of water, it is the country's largest lake.
Lake Eyre is actually divided into two sections: Lake Eyre North and Lake Eyre South. These sections are joined by the narrow Goyder Channel.
Immense expanse of salt
Most of the time Lake Eyre is covered by an immense dry salt pan. This immense expanse of salt crusts reflects the rays of the fierce outback sun, creating a harsh, scintillating glare that reminds one of an alien landscape.
The surface of the lake is 15 metres below sea level. The salt crust is up to 250 cm thick.
The surrounding area is covered by gibber stones and the whole area is walled in by red dunes.
Bluebird reaches 640 kph
In 1964 the salt crust was thick enough to allow Sir Donald Campbell to race his jet-powered Bluebird-Proteus CN7 car and successfully reach the world land speed record of 648.73 kilometres per hour (403.10 miles per hour) on 17 July 1964.
Occasionally full of water
Lake Eyre has only been full of water seven times since European settlement.
In 1974-77 flooding rains in Queensland, the Northern Territory and South Australia filled Lake Eyre with water. In that period the waters of the lake stretched for a length of 140 km and the depth of the floodwaters reached a record height of 6 metres (20 ft).
When there is water in the lake, an amazing variety of wildlife and wildflowers returns:
Wildlife: ____
Wildflowers: ____
Lake Eyre Yacht Club
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Lake Eyre National Park
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Author: David Paul Wagner
(David Paul Wagner on Google+)