Lake Hopkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Hopkins |
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 Lake Hopkins
Location in Western Australia
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| Location | Northern Territory |
| Coordinates | 24°15′S 128°50′E / 24.250°S 128.833°E |
| Type | Salt lake |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Max. length | 42 km (26 mi) |
| Max. width | 35 km (22 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 441 m (1,447 ft) |
Lake Hopkins is a large salt lake found in the eastern part of Western Australia. It's very close to the border of the Northern Territory. This lake is part of a long chain of salt lakes that stretches for about 500 kilometers (310 miles). This chain includes Lake Neale and Lake Amadeus, and it reaches all the way to the Finke River in the east. This whole area is called the Amadeus Basin.
What is Lake Hopkins?
Lake Hopkins is known as a salt lake. This means it's a lake where the water has a very high amount of salt, much more than regular freshwater lakes. Most of the time, Lake Hopkins is actually a dry salt pan. A salt pan is a flat area covered in salt and other minerals, left behind when water evaporates. The lake only fills with water for short periods after there has been a lot of rain.
Where is Lake Hopkins Located?
Lake Hopkins is situated in a remote part of Australia. It sits about 441 meters (1,447 feet) above sea level. Its location near the Northern Territory border makes it an important landmark in the vast Australian outback.
A Challenge for Road Builders
In 1960, Lake Hopkins presented a big challenge for a famous Australian road builder named Len Beadell. He was working on building the Sandy Blight Junction Road, which was a very difficult project in the desert. The lake's often-dry, soft surface and wide expanse made it hard for his team to cross and continue building the road.
