Soakage facts for kids

A soakage, also called a soak, is a special place where you can find water in the dry deserts of Australia. It's called a soak because the water usually sinks, or soaks, into the sandy ground. It then stays hidden and stored just below the surface.

These water spots can sometimes be part of a temporary river, known as an ephemeral river, or a larger drainage system. Soakages were super important for Aboriginal people living in the desert. They were often the most dependable places to find water, especially when there wasn't much rain during a drought. Knowing exactly where each soakage was located was incredibly valuable knowledge.

What is a Soakage?

A soakage is like a natural underground water tank in the desert. Imagine a sandy area where rainwater collects and then slowly soaks down into the ground. It doesn't just disappear; it gets stored there, protected from the hot sun. This makes it a reliable source of water in very dry places.

How Do Soakages Work?

Soakages work because of the type of ground they are in. When rain falls in the desert, it can quickly evaporate. But in a soakage area, the sandy soil acts like a sponge. The water seeps down through the sand and is held there, often just a short distance below the surface. People can then dig a shallow hole to reach this stored water.

Sometimes, soakages are connected to ephemeral rivers. These are rivers that only flow after heavy rain. When the river dries up, the water might still be available underground in a soakage nearby.

Why Are Soakages Important?

Soakages are vital for life in the Australian desert. They provide essential water for animals and plants, allowing them to survive in harsh conditions. For people, especially Aboriginal people, soakages were, and still are, critical for survival and travel across vast dry lands.

Soakages and Aboriginal People

For thousands of years, Aboriginal people developed deep knowledge of their land. This included knowing the precise location of every soakage. This knowledge was passed down through generations. It allowed them to travel safely and find water even in the driest times. These water sources were not just places to drink; they were often important cultural sites too.

Soakages and Explorers

In the 1800s, European explorers like Peter Warburton and David Carnegie traveled through Australia's deserts. They also needed water to survive. Sometimes, these explorers would try to get Aboriginal people to show them where their secret water sources were. This was a difficult time, as explorers sometimes pressured local Aboriginal people to share their valuable knowledge of these hidden water spots.