Largest floodwater on record creates rare outback spectacle
The largest volume of floodwater on record for parts of South Australia have left communities and stations isolated and some famous trails closed. The floodwaters, flowing down from Queensland to the state's north-east, have caused the closure of the 472-kilometre Strzelecki Track as well as a South Australian section of the Birdsville Trail.
But the waters have also flowed to South Australia's Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, bringing Australia's largest salt lake alive for the second year in a row.
Australia's lowest natural point, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre covers an area of 9500 square kilometres. Flooding of the usually dry lake is a once-every-several-years occurrence. Back-to-back drenchings are rare, though it hasn't been completely dry for some years.
Even more rare: a filling, and that's what's predicted this year. The last time was from the record-smashing 1974 floods.
When the water comes, so too, does the wildlife, including migratory birds and even marine life from below the lake's surface. The outback landscape is its own spectacle.
Journey Beyond's Alicia Triggs says Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is best appreciated from a bird's-eye perspective.
The company's Outback Spirit is running Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre and Flinders Ranges Spectacular five-day, all-inclusive, small-group coach tours that include two scenic flights over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre as well as exploring Wilpena Pound, in South Australia's Flinders Ranges.
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