Lake Mackay
Largest salt lake in Western Australia.
Lake Mackay, called Wilkinkarra by the Pintupi people, is an ephemeral salt lake and the largest of its kind among hundreds scattered across the Pilbara, northern Goldfields-Esperance, and the Northern Territory. Sitting on the fringe of the Great Sandy Desert, it covers 3,494 square kilometers, making it Western Australia’s largest salt lake. Its surface sits between 355 and 370 meters above sea level.
As Australia’s fourth-largest lake, it stretches roughly 100 kilometers east-west and 80 kilometers north-south. Darker patches on the lakebed signal desert vegetation or algae, some moisture in the soil, and the lowest spots where water collects. In this dry climate, evaporation draws salts and minerals to the surface through capillary action, creating a bright white, reflective crust. Scattered brown hills dot the eastern half, while east-west sand ridges lie south of the lake.
Explorer David Carnegie predicted the lake’s existence in 1897 after passing to the west, writing in *Spinifex and Sand* that a mirage of a vast lake appeared from east to south, though none was visible from nearby cliffs or Mount Webb. He suspected a large salt lake connected Lake White and Lake Macdonald. The lake was first charted by Christopher Walker and Andy Everett on April 14, 1913, during a prospecting trip from Ryan’s Well to Wiluna. Walker described seeing only mirage for miles, then striking an arm of the lake with a thin layer of white salt. Following it westward, they found islands and vast salt plains stretching far. The 1930 Mackay Aerial Survey Expedition flew over on June 5, 1930, and Michael Terry’s camel party reached the northeastern corner in August 1932. Terry noted earlier reports from Afghan cameleer Rawazan (1904) and prospector Jimmy Wyckham (1925). The name Lake Mackay was approved for both the Northern Territory and Western Australia on March 13, 1934, after Donald George Mackay.
The lake is the birthplace of prominent Indigenous artist Linda Syddick Napaltjarri, and artist Ronnie Tjampitjinpa grew up in the area. A September 2024 ABC News report noted that a proposed sulphate of potash mine, backed by local Aboriginal communities, might pose environmental risks to a newly discovered population of critically endangered night parrots in the nearby Ngururrpa Indigenous Protected Area.
Quick Facts
- Native Name
- piu · Wilkinkarra
- Location
- Western Australia and Northern Territory
- Countries
- Australia
- Length
- 100 km
- Area
- 3494 km2
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Explorer David Carnegie in 1897 predicted the lake's existence when he passed by it to the west, as quoted in his book Spinifex and Sand. He described seeing a mirage of a lake of apparently great size but could not confirm it. The lake was first charted by Christopher Walker, who came upon the mid-eastern side on Monday 14 April 1913 while on a prospecting expedition west from Ryan's Well to Wiluna. Walker noted the lake was dry with a thin layer of very white salt, and that islands were visible within the lake.
Reader's Guide
Lake Mackay is significant as the largest salt lake in Western Australia and the fourth largest in Australia, covering 3,494 km². Its ephemeral nature and remote location on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert have made it a landmark for explorers and Indigenous peoples. The lake's white reflective surface results from salts and minerals carried to the surface by evaporation. It holds cultural importance as the birthplace of Indigenous artist Linda Syddick Napaltjarri and the upbringing area of Ronnie Tjampitjinpa. In 2024, a proposed sulphate of potash mine supported by local Aboriginal communities raised environmental concerns due to a newly detected population of critically endangered night parrots in the nearby Ngururrpa Indigenous Protected Area. The promoter, Agrimin, planned conservation measures including fire management, feral cat and red fox control, and a curfew on haulage over the private road. The lake also lends its name to a Northern Territory locality and to Mackay Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lake Mackay?
Lake Mackay is an ephemeral salt lake sitting on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert in Western Australia. The Pintupi people refer to it by its traditional name, Wilkinkarra. It holds the distinction of being the state's largest salt lake and Australia's fourth-largest lake overall.
Where exactly is Lake Mackay located?
It lies on the fringe of the Great Sandy Desert, with its surface elevation ranging from 355 to 370 meters above sea level. The lake spans roughly 100 kilometers from east to west and about 80 kilometers from north to south.
What makes Lake Mackay stand out among other lakes?
It is the biggest of hundreds of ephemeral salt lakes dotting the Pilbara, northern Goldfields-Esperance, and the Northern Territory. At 3,494 square kilometers, it is the largest salt lake in Western Australia.
What happens to Lake Mackay over time?
Because it is an ephemeral lake, its surface water is not permanent and the basin periodically dries out. Darker patches that appear on the lakebed mark areas where desert vegetation or algae persist in lingering moisture.
Why is Lake Mackay important?
As the largest salt lake in Western Australia and the fourth-largest lake in the country, it shapes the ecology of a vast arid region. It also carries deep cultural significance as a traditional Pintupi place known as Wilkinkarra.
More in Great Lakes Of The World 1-24
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