Lake Eyre

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/lake-eyre

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Lake Eyre?Up to 9,500 square kilometers (3,700 square miles) when full
2. How high is Lake Eyre?Approximately 15 meters (49 feet) below sea level
3. What is the location?South Australia, Australia
4. What is the habitat?Endorheic salt lake and salt pan
5. What is Lake Eyre and why does it sometimes disappear?Lake Eyre, also called Kati Thanda, is a huge salt lake in South Australia that is usually a dry salt pan. It only fills with water when big rains bring water from far away, so it can be empty most of the time.
6. Why does Lake Eyre have no outlet to the sea?Lake Eyre is an endorheic basin, meaning it has no rivers that flow out to the ocean. All the water that comes in stays in the lake until it evaporates.

Salt Pan: A flat, dry area of land, often covered with salt, formed by the evaporation of water in an arid or semi-arid region.
Endorheic Basin: A closed drainage basin that retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans.
Ephemeral Rivers: Rivers that flow only intermittently, typically after rainfall, and may be dry for long periods.
Brine Shrimp: Small aquatic crustaceans that can survive in highly saline water and are a crucial food source for birds when the lake is flooded.