Hobbies And Interests
Geological History
The landforms of this large lake and its surrounding tributaries date to the Jurassic Period. During this time the climate of Australia was considerably wetter, with more freshwater lakes. During the Pleistocene Period the area that now encompasses Lake Eyre experienced more regular filling. In the last few hundred years, since European occupation, the lake has been in its driest phase.
Recent History and Modern Features
Lake Eyre was named for Edward Eyre, who first saw it in 1840. Its first recorded filling was not until more than 100 years later, in 1949. The last time the lake was filled was in 1989. Due to the extremely dry climate and frequent periods of severe drought that are currently the norm in Australia, the lake fills very rarely, but when it is full it is the largest lake in the country.
Present Day Landforms and Tributaries
Lake Eyre actually comprises two lakes, North Lake Eyre and South Lake Eyre. These two lakes are connected by a narrow channel, and the tributaries that drain them are on the shores of South Lake Eyre. This shoreline hosts the most vegetation. To the north and northeast are some of the driest and most inhospitable regions in the country, the Tirari, Strzelecki and Sturt Stony deserts. The bed of the lake is the lowest in Australia, located 55 feet below sea level.
Climate and Rainfall
Average temperatures in the Lake Eyre region dip to 71 degrees Fahrenheit in July and rise to a peak of 98 degrees in January. The landforms of Lake Eyre are dependent on the climate, which although arid is not comparable to other notable deserts like the Sahara. Lake Eyre only gets 3 percent less rain than the global average but the evaporation rate is three times more intense. Lake Eyre is part of an arid zone that covers 60 percent of Australia.