Murray-Sunset National Park, Nature reserve in Victoria, Australia.
Murray-Sunset National Park is a 633,000-hectare national park in the Mallee district of northwestern Victoria, bordering South Australia and the Murray River. Its name combines the Murray River with the Sunset country, and the park spans semi-arid sand plains, mallee eucalypt woodland and four salt lakes known as the Pink Lakes. The Sturt Highway crosses the northern section, while most of the park lies between the Sturt and Mallee highways.
The area was historically used for salt extraction in the early 1900s before being protected as a reserve. The Pink Lakes were formally incorporated into the park in 1999, transforming it into a larger conservation area.
The park's name comes from the Murray River along its northern boundary and the Sunset country, the semi-arid Mallee land west of the river. The old salt works left the Linga railway and salt sheds around Lake Crosbie, and the Nowingi line ends at a gypsum hopper on the Raak Plain. Shearer's Quarters and Mopoke Hut, grazier accommodation from the 1960s, still stand.
The park is remote with minimal facilities and unreliable mobile coverage, so bringing plenty of water and a navigation tool is essential. Planning ahead and traveling with proper supplies and equipment helps ensure a safe visit.
The Pink Lakes shift between pink and orange hues throughout the year, caused by microscopic algae that produce beta-carotene. These color changes follow natural cycles tied to water conditions and are rarely the same during different visits.
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