Salt lakes are common in areas of low rainfall in Australia, especially in the southeastern part of Western Australia and in South Australia. The main group of salt lakes, called simply the Salt Lakes, lies to the south of the Carnarvon Range, at the northern edge of the Nullarbor Plain in Western Australia. The largest salt lake is Lake Eyre. See Lake Eyre.
The lakes are actually salt pans and seldom have any water. During periods of rain, they collect a few inches or centimeters of water, but it quickly evaporates, leaving a fine crust of salt and gypsum on the lake beds. See Gypsum.
