Lake Eyre is the largest lake in Australia, not that it is often full of water. It is in remote northern South Australia, about 700 kilometres north of Adelaide. The lowest parts of the lake are 15 metres below sea level, and when the lake is dry, large salt pans form, caused by the seasonal expansion and evaporation of the trapped waters. It is actually 2 lakes, Lake Eyre North and Lake Eyre South, connected by the Goyder channel.
The lake is fed by rivers flowing from Queensland, the Diamantina, Georgina and Cooper Creek. Most years the water doesn’t make it to Lake Eyre. Usually there is not enough rainfall to allow the rivers to reach that far and the water evaporates very quickly in the intense heat of central Australia. The lake fills roughly 4 times a century. Now is one of those times. Heavy rains in the catchment areas have seen huge flows of water making their way into Lake Eyre, allowing fish and bird life to flourish.
We thought it a good idea to see Lake Eyre with water. It may not happen again in our lifetimes. To drive there would be a huge undertaking so we decided to take a flight over the lake. It obviously meant we would not get to see the wildlife, but we expected the view from the air to be spectacular. We were not disappointed.
Lake Eyre from the air
It is very difficult to show how spectacular the lake looks. I took the photos from the window of a small plane. It was very bumpy under the cloud cover and the 2 layers of perspex don’t help much. Anyway here are some more photos.
amazing patterns
the Goyder channel - that blue bit
it looks like clouds in the sky
where the water starts to flow into the lake
the Diamantina become the Warburton
The Diamantina spreads out over the channel country and reforms to become the Warburton River.
amazing landscapes
the South Australian Channel country
the channel country spreads for hundreds of kilometres
great country for cattle
the Diamantina river heading to Lake Eyre
Cooper Creek punt
Cooper Creek is the coming together of the Thomson and Barcoo rivers. The water course is 1,300km long, the second longest inland river system after the Murray – Darling. If the flows to the north are large enough the water finally arrives in Lake Eyre 9 – 10 months after the rain – incredible!
If you get the chance to see Lake Eyre and the South Australian channel country, grab it. Word is that next year will be wet as well.
Wow…I’ve only ever seen this on tv…thanks Debra…
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on December 5, 2010
at 6:41 am
great view!
By: Tracy Z on December 5, 2010
at 10:05 am
Great photos Deb,
Your photos and comments demonstrate what a vast country we live in.
Incredible, we only have a population of 22 million.
Cheers Judy
By: Judy on December 5, 2010
at 10:52 am
Wonderful! I’ve not flown over Lake Eyre, but have flown over Lake Amadeus, another salt lake (one of the pictures is here: http://journeyphotographic.com/2010/07/15/lake-amadeus-northern-territory/ , but the rest aren’t up yet). I really want to fly over Lake Eyre – where did you fly from?
By: Journey Photographic on December 5, 2010
at 12:04 pm
We did a 2 day trip out of Adelaide. Love your pic of Lake Amadeus.
By: bagnidilucca on December 5, 2010
at 12:07 pm
I know so many people that want to visit Lake Eyre-me included!
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on December 5, 2010
at 12:29 pm
That would be pretty amazing seeing Lake Eyre.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on December 5, 2010
at 7:42 pm
Awesome Deb, My Dad did a bit of a ‘outback Australia’ treck in the 1990’s & has awesome pictures of this too. Its one big amazing country we live in isn’t it…, so much to see. Thanks for showing us these 🙂
By: Anna Johnston on December 5, 2010
at 10:00 pm
wow Deb, the photos of your recent SA trip look fantastic. Im so glad you enjoyed it. We live in this state and havent wittnessed it. Thanks for the photos. Hopefully we will catch up next ime we are in Brisbane ar you are in Adelaide. Cheers
P&D
By: Dave on December 21, 2010
at 3:20 am
You have no excuse – get out there and have a look!
By: bagnidilucca on December 21, 2010
at 4:34 am
[…] to Adelaide to visit lovely relatives, and flew in a light plane over Lake Eyre, full of water, and visited some iconic outback towns, Maree, Coober Pedy and Birdsville – what […]
By: My favourite places in 2010 « Debra & Liz's Bagni di Lucca Blog on December 30, 2010
at 10:29 am
May I ask who you flew with? I’m a pilot out that way, you might be interested in some of the photos I’ve taken as well – absolutely amazing part of Australia! http://littlefokker.wordpress.com/
By: littlefokker on February 12, 2011
at 2:00 am
Our trip included Maree, Birdsville and Coober Pedy as well. There are some better photos on those posts. It was my first time to those outback places.
By: bagnidilucca on February 12, 2011
at 6:54 am