Serpentine Lakes

Serpentine Lakes
Serpentine Lakes on the border of South Australia and Western Australia
Serpentine Lakes
Location	South Australia and Western Australia
Coordinates	28°43′S 129°7′E / 28.717°S 129.117°E / -28.717; 129.117
Type	Salt lakes
Basin countries	Australia
Designation	Mamungari Conservation Park
Max. length	100 km (62 mi)
Surface area	97 km2 (37 sq mi)
Surface elevation	264 m (866 ft)

The Serpentine Lakes is a chain of salt lakes in the Great Victoria Desert of Australia. It runs for almost 100 km (62 mi) along the border between South Australia and Western Australia. When full, the lakes cover an area of 9,700 hectares (97 km²). Most of it is located in the Mamungari Conservation Park. The Anne Beadell Highway crosses the northernmost arm of the lake.

The Serpentine Lakes are considered an important wetlands area. They form part of a major palaeo-drainage system, a now-inactive drainage system from the Palaeozoic era.^[1][2] The surface of the lake normally consists of dry clay, silt and sand, and is covered with a salty crust. The sediment is mostly quartz arenite. The lakes form the main channel of the palaeo-drainage system. Other channels are covered by sand dunes and are not well defined.^[3] The surface elevation is 264 m (866 ft) above mean sea-level.^[4]

Tektites high in magnesium have been found in these lakes.^[5]