Lake Mackay facts for kids
Lake Mackay is a huge salt lake in the middle of Australia. The local Pintupi people call it Wilkinkarra. This big lake crosses the border between Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
It is surrounded by vast deserts. To the northwest is the Great Sandy Desert. The Tanami Desert lies to the northeast. To the south, you'll find the Gibson Desert. There are many salt lakes in this area, but Lake Mackay is the biggest.
It covers an area of about 3,494 square kilometres (1,349 sq mi). The lake is roughly 100 km (62 mi) long from east to west and north to south. This makes it the second-largest lake in all of Australia.
Contents
How Lake Mackay Got Its Name
The lake was named after Donald George Mackay. He was the first European person to visit this area.
What the Lake Is Like
Most of the time, Lake Mackay is dry. This is because water evaporates very quickly in the hot desert climate. When it is dry, you can see salt and other minerals floating on its surface.
Cultural Importance to Aboriginal People
Lake Mackay is a very special place for several Aboriginal groups. It is especially important to the Pintupi people. The lake is central to their Dreamtime stories.
For the Pintupi, Lake Mackay is the heart of their ancestral lands. Many sacred paths and tracks meet at the lake's edges. According to mythology, the lake was created after a huge bushfire. This fire destroyed the land around it long ago.
Images for kids
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2017 satellite photograph taken by Copernicus Sentinel-2B
See also
In Spanish: Lago Mackay para niños
