To get rather philosophical about things, an element of chance and ephemerality makes us appreciate something all the more. The joy of seeing cherry blossom season in Japan isn’t just that the blooms are pretty, but that they last for only two weeks; the fact that you’re not guaranteed to see the northern lights on a visit above the Arctic Circle makes catching them more magical; and celestial events that happen once in a decade will see hundreds of thousands of people travel for a glimpse, as they did last year with the Great North American Eclipse.
And if you’re thinking about planning a trip to Australia, you might want to do it sooner rather than later as there’s a (potentially) once-in-a-lifetime spectacle going on at Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre right now.
The lake, which is found a six-hour drive or 90-minute flight from Adelaide, is usually empty, having only filled completely three times in the past 160 years. But now water is flowing in from southwest Queensland and South Australia’s northeast flooding events, with more expected in the coming months.
Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre is one of Australia’s famed pink lakes, although this phenomenon only occurs when the lake becomes hypersaline as the water recedes again. The partial or complete filling sees the return of a huge variety of species, with the hatching of brine shrimp attracting millions of waterbirds and breeding birds from across the country as well as further afield from China and Japan, so even if you don’t see any pink hues on your visit, you will see plenty of biodiversity.
According to South Australia’s Department for Environment and Water, the lake began to fill in late May, and while it’s difficult to tell how long it will last, it could potentially stay filled for up to a year.
When filled completely, Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre is Australia’s biggest lake at 9,500 sq km. The best way to appreciate the beauty of the spectacle is from the air, with details around local operators provided on the Department for Environment and Water’s website.
There are also a number of designated viewing areas within the park. Walking on the dry river bed is not allowed, and swimming and boating are also restricted.
More information: environment.sa.gov.au
