In 1832, the Englishman Air Edward John moved to Australia and took up sheep farming. In order to find new pastures, he regularly made expeditions. And in 1840, during one of them, he discovered a unique salt 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 center of a vast drainage basin. This is a closed river system that does not have access to the ocean. The pool occupies one sixth of the entire continent and is one of the largest in the world.
At the bottom of the lake there is a dense layer of salt. In the rainy season, rivers flow towards the lake. The water brought here by the monsoons determines whether the lake will fill and how deep it will be. Liquid filling Lake Air dissolves salts.
During a drought, the lake resembles a salt desert. Due to the fact that such periods are quite common here, there are almost no plants and animals nearby.
During rains, 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 there are heavy rains in the vicinity, flooding occurs on the territory.
Unique lake in Australia
These places are of greatest interest precisely in the period of drought. At this time, hundreds of scientists, tourists, photographers and naturalists come here. The surrounding landscapes delight. They resemble an amazing, but lifeless planet. Air Lake 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 salt in the lake was measured. Scientists have found that it would take about 12,000 years to accumulate such an amount of salt, provided that Lake Air 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 salt accumulation can be reduced to one and a half thousand years.
Inhabitants of the depths
When the lake is filled with water and the salt concentration is the lowest, some fish species live in it. However, then they die. Today, experts are studying the microorganisms that live in the lake. There is a theory according to which the living conditions are about the same as on Mars.
Almost no one lives near the lake. There is only a small settlement with eight inhabitants. Also nearby is Australia's largest livestock farm.
There is a very unusual yacht club on the lake. During a drought, it becomes a haven for extreme people from all over the world. It is just the perfect place for speed lovers.