In 1832, Eyre Edward John, an Englishman, moved to Australia and took up sheep breeding. In order to find new pastures, he regularly made expeditions. And in 1840, during one of them, he discovered a unique s alt lake. Air is the name that it received later in honor of the discoverer. It is located fifteen meters below sea level. This is the lowest point on the continent.
Description of the lake
It is located in the desert, in the state of South Australia, in the very center of a vast endorheic basin. This is a closed river system that has no outlet to the ocean. The basin occupies one sixth of the entire continent and is one of the largest in the world.
There is a dense layer of s alt at the bottom of the lake. During the rainy season, rivers flow towards the lake. The water brought here by the monsoon determines whether the lake will fill up and how deep it will be. The liquid filling Lake Eyre dissolves the s alts.
During a drought, the lake resembles a s alt desert. Due to the fact that such periods are quite common here, there are almost no plants nearby andanimals.
During the rainy season, Lake Eyre and the surrounding area are completely transformed. A blooming oasis appears on an area of about 15 thousand square meters. During this period, the lake becomes the largest on the continent. However, this does not last long. When it rains in the area, flooding occurs in the area.
Australian unique lake
These places are of the greatest interest precisely during the drought period. At this time, hundreds of scientists, tourists, photographers and naturalists come here. The surrounding landscapes are breathtaking. They resemble an amazing, but lifeless planet. Lake Eyre is definitely worth a visit. Such a walk will be one of the most exciting and unforgettable in your life.
In 1984, the amount of s alt in the lake was measured. Scientists have found that it would take about 12,000 years to accumulate this amount of s alt, provided that Lake Eyre and the entire area are covered with water once every eight years. According to historians, this territory of the mainland in the Tertiary period was covered with tropical forests, and the climate was very humid. Presumably at this time this unique lake was formed. During this period, regular, up to once a year, flooding of the territory could take place. In this case, the period for the accumulation of s alt can be reduced to one and a half thousand years.
Dwellers of the Deep
When the lake is filled with water and the s alt concentration is at its lowest, some species of fish live in it. However, they then die. Today experts are studyingmicroorganisms that live in the lake. There is a theory that life conditions here are about the same as on Mars.
No one lives near the lake. There is only a small settlement with eight inhabitants. Australia's largest livestock farm is also nearby.
There is a very unusual yacht club on the lake. During a drought, it becomes a haven for extreme sports from all over the world. This is just the perfect place for lovers of speed.
