Is Lake Eyre the biggest lake in Australia?

Lake Eyre is the biggest lake in Australia according to one definition. According to others, it’s Lake Argyle, Lake Gordon or Lake Corangamite.

Which lake is the biggest lake in Australia? Well, that’s a trickier question than you might imagine, as an awful lot depends on your definition of a lake.

Officially, the biggest lake in Australia is Lake Eyre, in the middle of the South Australian outback. This lake, also known as Kati Thanda, often has little to no water in it, however. It is a giant salt lake that comes into flood a few times per century.

Biggest lake in Australia: How big is Lake Eyre?

The Lake Eyre basin, however, covers a massive 9,690 square kilometres. It is possible to get to Lake Eyre by 4WD from William Creek or Marree, but most people choose to take a scenic flight from William Creek instead.

The list of Australia’s biggest lakes is dominated by salt lakes, and the biggest that actually has water in it all the time is Lake Argyle in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Near the town of Kununurra, Lake Argyle is a popular swimming spot that offers cruises and a resort. It covers a surface area of around 980 square kilometres.

Biggest lake in Australia by capacity

But Lake Argyle isn’t the biggest lake in Australia by capacity. That honour, according to Geoscience Australia, goes to Lake Gordon in Tasmania. This man-made lake, created as part of a massive hydro-electric system, has a capacity of 12.45 billion cubic metres.

The largest natural, permanent lake in Australia is Lake Corangamite near Colac in Victoria. This saline lake covers an area of 209 square kilometres.

Is Lake Eyre the biggest lake in Australia?

Biggest lake in Australia: How big is Lake Eyre?

Biggest lake in Australia by capacity

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