Lake Gairdner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Gairdner |
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Extreme southern reaches of Lake Gairdner
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 Lake Gairdner
Location in South Australia
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| Location | Central South Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°34′S 136°00′E / 31.567°S 136.000°E |
| Type | Endorheic, salt lake |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Designation | Lake Gairdner National Park |
| Max. length | 160 km (99 mi) |
| Max. width | 48 km (30 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 121 m (397 feet) |
Lake Gairdner is a huge salt lake in South Australia, a state in Australia. It's located north of the Eyre Peninsula. This lake is special because it's an endorheic lake, meaning water flows into it but doesn't flow out to the ocean. When it fills up with water, it becomes the third largest salt lake in Australia!
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Where is Lake Gairdner Located?
Lake Gairdner is found about 440 kilometers (273 miles) northwest of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It's also about 150 kilometers (93 miles) northwest of Port Augusta. You can find it near the northern part of the Gawler Ranges and west of Lake Torrens.
How Big is Lake Gairdner?
This impressive lake stretches over 160 kilometers (100 miles) long and 48 kilometers (30 miles) wide. In some areas, the salt crust on the lake bed can be more than 1.2 meters (4 feet) thick!
How Lake Gairdner Got Its Name
The lake was named by Richard MacDonnell, who was the Governor of South Australia at the time. He named it in October 1857 after Gordon Gairdner. Gordon Gairdner was an important clerk in the Australian Department of the Colonial Office, which was a British government office.
Lake Gairdner National Park
Lake Gairdner is part of the Lake Gairdner National Park, along with two other lakes: Lake Everard and Lake Harris. Scientists believe these lakes were once part of a much larger inland sea. This ancient sea stretched all the way to the Gulf of Carpentaria in northern Australia.
Water Sources for the Lake
Six temporary creeks flow into Lake Gairdner. These are called ephemeral creeks because they only flow after it rains. Some of these creeks include Garden Well Creek, Gorge Creek, and Yeltabinna Creek.
Lake Gairdner as a Locality
On April 26, 2013, the area covering Lake Gairdner was officially recognized as a locality by the government of South Australia. This means it's a defined geographic area.
Salt Lake Racing and Speed Week
Lake Gairdner's flat, hard salt surface makes it a perfect place for racing. People come here to try and set new land speed records with special vehicles. The lake's dry, flat areas are known as salt flats or salt pans.
Every year, an event called "Speed Week" is held here. It's organized by a group called Dry Lakes Racers Australia. During Speed Week, people bring their custom-built cars and motorcycles to test their speed on the vast salt flats. It's an exciting event for anyone interested in fast vehicles!
See also
In Spanish: Lago Gairdner para niños
