Lake Eyre: Difference between revisions
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}} |
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{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}} |
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{{Infobox lake |
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|lake_name = Lake Eyre |
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|image_lake = NEO lake eyre big.jpg |
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|caption_lake = Composite [[Landsat 7]] satellite image using shortwave infrared, near-infrared, and blue wavelengths |
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|image_bathymetry = |
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|caption_bathymetry = |
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|location = northern [[South Australia]] |
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|coords = {{coord|28|22|00|S|137|22|00|E|region:AU-SA_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} |
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|type = [[endorheic]] |
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|inflow = |
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|outflow = ''[[evaporation]]'' |
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|catchment = |
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|basin_countries = [[Australia]] |
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|length = |
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|width = |
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|area = {{Convert|9500|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} (max) |
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|depth = {{Convert|1.5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} (every 3 years), {{Convert|4|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} (every decade) |
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|max-depth = |
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|volume = |
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|residence_time = |
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|shore = |
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|elevation = {{convert|-15|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} |
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|islands = |
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|cities = |
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}} |
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'''Lake Eyre''' ({{IPAc-en|pron|ˈ|ɛər}}) is the lowest point in [[Australia]], at approximately {{Convert|15|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} ([[Australian Height Datum|AHD]]) below sea level, and, on the rare occasions that it fills, it is the largest [[lake]] in Australia and 18th largest in the world. It is the focal point of the vast [[Lake Eyre Basin]] and is found some {{Convert|700|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of [[Adelaide]]. |
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==Geography== |
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The lake was named after [[Edward John Eyre]] who was the first European to sight it in 1840. It is located in the [[Deserts of Australia|deserts]] of [[central Australia]], in northern [[South Australia]]. The [[Lake Eyre Basin|Eyre Basin]] is a large [[Endorheic basin|endorheic]] system surrounding the lakebed, the lowest part of which is filled with the characteristic [[salt pan (geology)|salt pan]] caused by the seasonal expansion and subsequent [[evaporation]] of the trapped waters. Even in the [[dry season]] there is usually some water remaining in Lake Eyre, normally collecting in a number of smaller sub-lakes within its margins. |
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During the [[Wet season|rainy season]] the rivers from the north-east part of the [[Lake Eyre basin]] (in [[outback]] (south-west and central) [[Queensland]]) flow towards the lake through the [[Channel Country]]. The amount of water from the [[monsoon]] determines whether water will reach the lake and if it does, how deep the lake will get. |
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==Floods== |
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Typically a {{Convert|1.5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} flood occurs every three years, a {{Convert|4|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} flood every decade, and a fill or near fill a few times a century. The water in the lake soon [[Evaporation|evaporates]] with a minor or medium [[flood]] drying by the end of the following summer. |
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In strong [[La Niña]] years the lake can fill. Since 1885 this has occurred in 1886–1887, 1889–1890, 1916–1917, [[1950 Australian rainfall records|1950]], 1955, and 1974–1976,<ref>Allen, Robert J.; The ''Australasian Summer Monsoon, Teleconnections, and Flooding in the Lake Eyre Basin''; published 1985 by Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, S.A. Branch; ISBN 0909112096</ref> with the highest flood of {{Convert|6|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} in 1974. Local rain can also fill Lake Eyre to 3–4 m (10–13 ft) as occurred in 1984 and 1989. Torrential rain in January 2007 took about six weeks to reach the lake but put only a small amount of water into it.<ref name ="ABC8March2007">{{cite news|url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1866774.htm|title=Lake Eyre flooding attracts yachting club interest|work=ABC News Online|publisher= [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=8 March 2007|accessdate=2007-03-08}}</ref> |
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When recently flooded the lake is almost fresh and native fresh water fish, including [[bony bream]] (''Nematolosa erebi''), the Lake Eyre Basin sub-species of [[golden perch]] (''Macquaria ambigua'') and various small [[Craterocephalus|hardyhead]] species (''Craterocephalus'' spp.) can survive in it. The [[salinity]] increases as the {{Convert|450|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} salt crust dissolves over a period of six months resulting in a massive [[fish kill]]. When over {{Convert|4|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} deep the lake is no more salty than the [[World Ocean|sea]], but [[Salinity in Australia|salinity]] increases as the [[water]] evaporates, with [[Saturation (chemistry)|saturation]] occurring at about a {{Convert|500|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} depth. The Lake takes on a pink hue when saturated due to the presence of [[beta-carotene]] pigment caused by the [[algae]] ''[[Dunaliella salina]]''. |
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===Birds=== |
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The lake has been identified by [[BirdLife International]] as an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) because, when flooded, it supports major breeding events of the [[Banded Stilt]] and [[Australian Pelican]], as well as over 1% of the world populations of [[Red-necked Avocet]]s, [[Sharp-tailed Sandpiper]]s, [[Red-necked Stint]]s, [[Silver Gull]]s and [[Caspian Tern]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |title=IBA: Lake Eyre |accessdate=2011-07-26 |work= Birdata |first= |last= |publisher=Birds Australia |date= }}</ref> |
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===2009=== |
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The 2009 Lake Eyre flood peaked at {{Convert|1.5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} deep in late May which is a quarter of its maximum recorded depth of {{Convert|6|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}. {{Convert|9|km3|cumi|0|abbr=on}} of water crossed the [[Queensland]]–[[South Australia]]n border with most of it coming from massive floods in the [[Georgina River]]. However the greater proportion soaked into the desert or evaporated en route to the lake leaving less than 4 km<sup>3</sup> (0.24 cu mi) in the lake which covered an area of {{Convert|800|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} or 12% of the lake. As the flood did not start filling the lake's deepest point (Belt Bay) until late March little [[bird]] life appeared preferring instead to nest in the upper reaches of the Lake Eyre Basin, north of [[Birdsville, Queensland|Birdsville]], where large lakes appeared in January as a result of monsoonal [[rain]]. |
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===2010=== |
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The high rainfall in summer sent flood water into the Diamantina, Georgina and Cooper Creek catchments of the Lake Eyre basin, with the Cooper Creek reaching the lake for the first time since 1990. The higher rainfall has prompted many different birds to migrate back to the area for breeding. |
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<ref>[http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/lake-eyre-floods-again.htm/ Lake Eyre floods again], Australian Geographic, 15 July 2010</ref> |
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===2011=== |
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Heavy rain in early March filled the southern end of the lake, with the north of the usually-dry salt pan about 75 per cent covered with water continuing to inflow from local creeks. |
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<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/09/3159183.htm?section=justin/ Flooding and storms fill outback lake], ABC News, 9 March 2011</ref> |
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==Yacht club== |
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The Lake Eyre Yacht Club is a dedicated group of [[sailors]] who sail on the lake's floods, including recent trips in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2009<ref>http://www.lakeeyreyc.com</ref>. A number of {{Convert|6|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} Trailer Sailers sailed on Lake Eyre in 1975, 1976 and 1984 when the flood depth reached 3–6 m (10–20 ft). In July 2010 The Yacht Club held its first regatta since 1976 and its first on [[Lake Killamperpunna]], a freshwater lake on Cooper Creek. The Cooper had reached Lake Eyre for the first time since 1990. |
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When full, a notable phenomenon is that around midday the lake surface can often become very flat. The surface then reflects the sky in a way that leaves both the horizon and water surface virtually impossible to see. The commodore of the Lake Eyre Yacht Club has stated that sailing during this time has the appearance of sailing in the sky. |
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==Land speed record attempts== |
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[[Image:EyreCampbellPlaque.JPG|thumb|Campbell Plaque at Level Post Bay]] |
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Lake Eyre has been a site for various [[land speed record]] attempts on its [[salt flats]], especially those by [[Donald Campbell]] with the ''[[Bluebird-Proteus CN7]]''. |
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==Gallery== |
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<gallery> |
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Image:Lake Eyre February 18, 2009.jpg|Lake Eyre during dry season. |
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Image:Lake Eyre May 9, 2009.jpg|Lake Eyre during rainy season. |
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Image:Lake Eyre.JPG|Lake Eyre South. |
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Image:LakeEyreSaltCrust.JPG|Lake Eyre salt crust. |
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</gallery> |
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==See also== |
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* [[Lake Eyre National Park]] |
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* [[Lake Eyre Basin]] |
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* [[Pluvial lake]] |
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* [[List of lakes]] |
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* [[Lists of lakes]]: |
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:* ''[[List of lakes by area|By area]]'' |
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:* ''[[List of lakes by depth|By depth]]'' |
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:* ''[[List of lakes by volume|By volume]]'' |
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:* ''[[List of lakes named after people|Named after people]]'' |
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:* ''[[List of prehistoric lakes|Prehistoric lakes]]'' |
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==References== |
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discussion of different citation methods and how to generate |
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footnotes using the <ref>, </ref> and <reference /> tags |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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*[[NASA Earth Observatory]] pages on Lake Eyre: [http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=10841], [http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=11763] |
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*[http://www.LakeEyreYC.com Lake Eyre Yacht Club website] |
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*[http://www.aussiepelicans.com/lakeeyre.html Lake Eyre pelican mystery] |
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*[http://www.k26.com/eyre/ Floods of Lake Eyre - Dr Vincent Kotwicki's site] |
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* [http://www.gslaviation.com.au GSL Aviation - Lake Eyre Scenic Flights] |
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{{Oceania topic|List of lakes in|title=List of [[lake]]s in [[Oceania]]}} |
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{{Protected areas of South Australia}} |
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[[Category:Lakes of South Australia|Eyre, Lake]] |
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[[Category:Endorheic lakes of Australia|Eyre, Lake]] |
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[[Category:Dry areas below sea level]] |
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[[Category:Land speed record venues]] |
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[[Category:Lake Eyre basin]] |
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[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Australia]] |
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[[Category:Far North (South Australia)]] |
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[[bn:আয়ার হ্রদ]] |
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[[be:Возера Эйр]] |
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[[be-x-old:Эйр (возера)]] |
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[[cs:Eyreovo jezero]] |
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[[cy:Llyn Eyre]] |
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[[da:Lake Eyre]] |
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[[de:Lake Eyre]] |
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[[et:Eyre'i järv]] |
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[[el:Λίμνη Έυρ]] |
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[[es:Lago Eyre]] |
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[[eo:Eyre]] |
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[[eu:Eyre lakua]] |
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[[fa:دریاچه ایر]] |
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[[fr:Lac Eyre]] |
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[[ga:Loch Eyre]] |
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[[ko:에어 호]] |
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[[id:Danau Eyre]] |
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[[it:Lago Eyre]] |
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[[sw:Ziwa Eyre]] |
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[[lv:Eira ezers]] |
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[[lt:Eiro ežeras]] |
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[[hu:Eyre-tó]] |
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[[mk:Ер (езеро)]] |
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[[ml:ഐർ തടാകം]] |
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[[nl:Eyremeer]] |
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[[ja:エーア湖]] |
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[[no:Eyresjøen]] |
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[[pl:Eyre (jezioro)]] |
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[[pt:Lago Eyre]] |
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[[ro:Lacul Eyre]] |
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[[ru:Эйр (озеро)]] |
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[[sah:Эйр (күөл)]] |
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[[simple:Lake Eyre]] |
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[[sr:Језеро Ер]] |
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[[fi:Eyrejärvi]] |
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[[sv:Eyresjön]] |
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[[th:ทะเลสาบแอร์]] |
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[[tr:Eyre Gölü]] |
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[[uk:Ейр]] |
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[[vi:Hồ Eyre]] |
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[[zh:艾爾湖]] |
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