SECRET OF LAKE EYRE

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4575, 28 April 1922, Page 1

SECRET OF LAKE EYRE

AUSTRALIA’S MYSTERY An attempt to solve the secret of the “mystery” lake, for that is the title given by scientists to Lake Eyre, in the interior of Australia, will shortly be made by a scientific expedition. Seven rivers from the hills miles away penetrate the. desert of Australia’s interior to finally tumble their contents into 'lie broad waters of Lake Eyre. In the rainy season these rivers become enormous Hooded areas, miles wide. The Diamantina and the Cooper have been known to reach a width of from 25 to 30 miles. For months great quantities of water are emptied into the “mystery” lake, swelling it to its fullest capacity. The mystery is this. Lake Eyre has no outlet, ‘yet in a surprisingly short time the broad island sea becomes a lake again. The oceans of flood water simply vanish. Science is frankly perturbed. It has been suggested that, perhaps, deep down there are great subterrean rivers, continually draining off the surplus. A move is to be made in a month or two by an expert hydrograplier, Mr. G. Halligen, of Sydney, to solve the interior’s mysteries. He has already had a glimpse of the “mystery” lake, for last month he made a non-stop flight of 400 luileas in an aeroplane, from the nearest- settlement to the lake. He describes tile lake and its surroundings as dreary desolation typified. It is about 100 miles long and 50 miles wide, with only a-third of the basin covered with water. The remainder is a film of salt, overlying black, oozy mud. He deprecates the suggestion that tho lake phenomenon migh be caused by rapid evaporation. The disappearance of such a large sibly bo caused by evaportion, in his opinion. .... Tho objects of the expedition winch ho will undertake will be to explore tho water's of tho lake, and see what fish and other creatures inhabit it. A small boriftg apparatus will be taken, and bores sunkinto tho bed of the lake if practicable. The problem outlet of the artesian basin will be unvestigated and a determined attempted to elucidate this conundrum will be made.