Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park, Nature reserve in South Australia, Australia
Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park is a nature reserve in South Australia containing a vast salt lake. The salt lake stretches roughly 144 kilometers in length and 77 kilometers in width, forming an enormous white expanse across the landscape.
The park was established in 1985 and renamed in 2013 to recognize the Arabana Aboriginal traditional name for the area. This change reflected growing acknowledgment of the original peoples connection to the landscape.
The name Kati Thanda comes from the Arabana language and means big lake. The Arabana Aboriginal people actively participate in managing the park and shape how this place is understood and cared for.
A visit requires a Desert Parks Pass and a four-wheel drive vehicle to safely navigate the remote terrain. Plan for a self-sufficient trip with supplies, as the area is extremely isolated and offers minimal facilities.
After extended dry periods, the salt lake fills with water and becomes a haven for waterbirds, an event occurring roughly every eight years. These rare floods transform the white expanse into a functioning aquatic ecosystem.
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