Lake Dey Dey

Lake Dey Dey is one of many ephemeral salt lakes located in the eastern end of the Great Victoria Desert, in the Far North region of South Australia.

Lake Dey Dey
Lake Dey Dey
LocationFar North, South Australia
Coordinates29°11′16″S 131°2′28″E
TypeSalt lake
Basin countriesAustralia
Surface elevation208 m (682 ft)

Description

It is normally dry, except during and after periods of heavy rainfall. It is part of the geological basin known as the Officer Basin. The larger Lake Maurice is to the south. Since 1985, Lake Dey Dey is part of the lands belonging to the Maralinga Tjarutja, a southern branch of the Pitjantjatjara.[1][2] The community of Oak Valley is located nearby to the southwest.[1]

The surface of the lake normally consists of dry clay, silt or sand, covered with a salty crust.[3] The area around Lake Dey Dey is extremely arid, and groundwater contains high levels of salinity.[4] The elevation of the surface above mean sea level is 208 m (682 ft).[5]

The lake is culturally important to the Maralinga Tjarutja people.[6] Both Dey Dey and Lake Maurice have Tjukurpa (Dreaming stories) associated with them, and access to some parts of Dey Dey is restricted to initiated individuals.[7] The major Tjukurpa associated with Lake Dey Dey relates to Wati Kulpirr, an ancestral spirit represented by the eastern grey kangaroo.[2]

See also

References
  1. Odette Mazel (2006). "Returning Parna Wiru: Restitution of the Maralinga Lands to Traditional Owners in South Australia". In Marcia Langton (ed.). Settling with Indigenous People: Modern Treaty and Agreement-making. Federation Press. p. 168. ISBN 9781862876187.
  2. Scott Cane (2002). Pila Nguru: The Spinifex People. Fremantle: Fremantle Art Centre Press. pp. 95, 108. ISBN 9781863683487.
  3. Officer Basin Energy Pty Ltd (September 2007). "Environmental impact report: geophysical operations in the Officer Basin, South Australia" (PDF). Government of South Australia, Department of Primary Industries and Regions. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-07-26. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  4. Vic Waclawik (24 February 2012). "Cyclone Zircon Project Groundwater Feasibility Study" (PDF). Australian Groundwater Technologies. pp. 8–12, 39. 1148-11-DAN.
  5. Geoscience Australia elevation data portal
  6. Heather McRae; Garth Nettheim; Laura Beacroft (1997). Indigenous legal issues: commentary and materials (2 ed.). LBC Information Services. p. 91. ISBN 9780455214689.
  7. Australian National University (1999), Aboriginal History, 23, p. 12
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