description Lake Mackay Overview
Lake Mackay is one of Australia's largest salt lakes, straddling the border between Western Australia and the Northern Territory in the remote Tanami Desert region. It is an ephemeral, normally dry lakebed that only fills with shallow water during periods of significant rainfall, after which it may partially evaporate to leave expansive salt crusts. The lake spans thousands of square kilometers and holds cultural significance for Indigenous Australian communities of the Western Desert.
help Lake Mackay FAQ
Where is Lake Mackay, and what is its Indigenous name?
Lake Mackay straddles the Western Australia and Northern Territory border in the remote desert interior. It is also known as Wilkinkarra to the Pintupi people. [NASA Earth Observatory](https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/australias-ephemeral-lake-mackay-84984/)
Is Lake Mackay permanently filled with water?
No. It is an ephemeral salt lake, which means it is normally a dry lakebed and may fill only after substantial seasonal rainfall. Satellite images often show salt, vegetation, algae, and damp low areas instead of a continuous body of water. [European Space Agency](https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2017/04/Lake_MacKay_Australia)
How large is Lake Mackay?
Geoscience Australia lists Lake Mackay at about 3,494 square kilometers, making it the largest waterbody listed for Western Australia. Other sources use different mapped outlines, so reported area figures can vary. [Geoscience Australia](https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/landforms/largest-waterbodies)
What happens to Lake Mackay wildlife after flooding?
After a major flood, water can remain for at least six months and create breeding habitat for shorebirds and other waterbirds. A 2001 aerial survey recorded at least 4,400 young banded stilts in the wider wetland. [NASA Earth Observatory](https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/australias-ephemeral-lake-mackay-84984/)
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