Lake Yamma Yamma
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| Lake Yamma Yamma | |
|---|---|
 Sentinel-2 image (2022) | |
  Lake Yamma Yamma | |
| Location | Channel Country, Queensland |
| Coordinates | 26°16′40″S 141°27′31″E / 26.27778°S 141.45861°E |
| Primary inflows | Yamma Creek, Cooper Creek |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Surface area | 72,000 ha (720 km2; 280 sq mi) |
Lake Yamma Yamma is an ephemeral lake on the Cooper Creek system in the arid Channel Country of south-western Queensland, Australia. The lake, which is sometimes called Lake Mackillop, is the largest inland ephemeral lake in Queensland.[1]
The lake only holds water following major floods on Cooper Creek. When filled the lake covers 72,000 ha (720 km2; 280 sq mi).[2] It fills to capacity only about once every 25–30 years, most recently in 2025. The lake waters are fresh immediately after filling, but become increasingly saline as the lake dries out. When dry, the lake bed's cracking grey clay soils support extensive grasslands dominated by rat's tail couch. Several ephemeral forbs grow among the couch following rain or minor flooding. The north-eastern section supports open lignum shrubland with patches of open woodland dominated by coolabah and Belalie.[1]
