{{Short description|Salt lake in South Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Lake Gairdner | image = Lake Gairdner.jpg | image_size = 280 | caption = Extreme southern reaches of Lake Gairdner | pushpin_map = Australia South Australia | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_label_position = top | pushpin_map_caption = Location in South Australia | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Central South Australia | coords = {{coord|31|34|S|136|00|E|region:AU-SA_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} | type = Endorheic, salt lake | inflow = | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = Australia | designation = Lake Gairdner National Park | length = {{convert|160|km|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|48|km|abbr=on}} | area = | depth = | max-depth = | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = 121 m (397 feet)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.lakepedia.com/lake/gairdner.html |title=Lake Gairdner, Australia – 3373.980sq km – Facts, Map|work=lakepedia.com |accessdate=30 September 2017}}</ref> | islands = | cities = }}
'''Lake Gairdner''' is a large endorheic salt lake in the Australian state of South Australia, to the north of the Eyre Peninsula. When in flood, the lake is considered the third largest salt lake in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/geographic-information/landforms/largest-waterbodies|title=Largest Waterbodies|date=27 June 2014 |accessdate=15 March 2015|publisher=Geoscience Australia}}</ref>thumb|Lake Gairdner, as viewed from the air.
==Description== Lake Gairdner is located about {{convert|440|km}} northwest of the state capital of Adelaide and about {{convert|150|km}} northwest of Port Augusta in the foothills on the northern side of the Gawler Ranges and to the west of Lake Torrens.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}
The lake is over {{convert|160|km|mi|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|48|km|mi|abbr=on}} across with salt over {{convert|1.2|m}} thick in some places.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}
Lake Gairdner was named by the Governor of South Australia, Richard MacDonnell in October 1857 after Gordon Gairdner, a Chief Clerk of the Australian Department in the Colonial Office.
Lake Gairdner along with Lake Everard and Lake Harris form the extent of the Lake Gairdner National Park.<ref>{{Citation | author1=South Australia. Department for Environment and Heritage | title=Lake Gairdner National Park management plan | publication-date=2004 | publisher=Department for Environment and Heritage | isbn=978-0-7590-1079-6|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/sharedassets/public/park_management/parks_pdfs_lake_gairdner_mp.pdf |page=ii }}</ref> The lakes were all once part of an inland sea that stretched all the way to the Gulf of Carpentaria.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exploreaustralia.net.au/South-Australia/Flinders-Ranges-and-Outback/Lake-Gairdner-National-Park|title=Lake Gairdner National Park|year=2010|accessdate=15 March 2015|publisher=Explore Australia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119001157/http://www.exploreaustralia.net.au/South-Australia/Flinders-Ranges-and-Outback/Lake-Gairdner-National-Park|archive-date=19 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Six ephemeral creeks feed the lake including Garden Well Creek, Gorge Creek and Yeltabinna Creek.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ritas-outback-guide.com/lake-gairdner.html#.VQUufo6UeAU|title=Lake Gairdner – Gawler Ranges|author=Amend, Rita|year=2015|accessdate=15 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810034201/http://www.ritas-outback-guide.com/lake-gairdner.html#.VQUufo6UeAU|archive-date=10 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The land occupying the extent of Lake Gairdner was gazetted as a locality by the Government of South Australia on 26 April 2013 under the name 'Lake Gairdner'.<ref name=PLB>{{cite web |title=Search result for " Lake Gairdner (LOCB)" (Record no SA0067089) with the following layers selected – "Suburbs and Localities" and " Place names (gazetteer)" |url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/# |work=Property Location Browser |publisher=Government of South Australia |accessdate=22 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012010923/http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/ |archive-date=12 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="map2012">{{cite map |url= https://www.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/7018/Rack_Plan_951_Map.pdf |title= Proposed Locality Boundaries for Pastoral Areas |id= Rack Plan 951 |publisher= Government of South Australia |date= 31 October 2012 |accessdate= 5 September 2015 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150923004500/http://www.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/7018/Rack_Plan_951_Map.pdf |archivedate= 23 September 2015 |url-status= dead }}</ref>
==Land speed record attempts == thumb|Speed Week 2009 Lake Gairdner has been the site of various land speed record attempts on its salt flats. Since 1990 it has been the location for the annual Speed Week event run by the Dry Lakes Racers Australia, where drivers of various types of vehicles aim to break land speed records. Over six days in March 2025, 72 new speed records were set, with the event attracting over 1000 visitors.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wakelin |first=James |title=Speedsters flood salt surface of SA's Lake Gairdner with cars and bikes |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia |date=15 March 2025 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-16/cars-set-records-at-speed-week-on-lake-gairdner/105054664 |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dlra.org.au/ |title=It all starts with Speed Week |accessdate=4 June 2016|publisher=Dry Lake Racers Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/03/15/2846171.htm |title=Tourism operator says the road to Lake Gairdner is shocking |author=Robertson, Kimberley |date=15 March 2010|accessdate=15 March 2015|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150404191800/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/03/15/2846171.htm| archive-date =4 April 2015 }}</ref>
==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|South Australia}}}} * {{section link|List of lakes of Australia|South Australia}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{cite web |url= http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/pdfs/lake_gairdner_mp.pdf |title= Lake Gairdner Management Plan |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20041111012314/http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/pdfs/lake_gairdner_mp.pdf |archive-date= 11 November 2004 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gairdner}} Category:Endorheic lakes of Australia Category:Saline lakes of South Australia Lake Gairdner Category:Gawler bioregion