This view of Australia's Lake Eyre was taken from the space shuttle Columbia in 1990 during the STS-35 mission. The lake covers about 3,600 square miles and is the lowest point in Australia at about 50 feet below sea level.It also is an ephemeral salt lake that receives less than 5 inches of annual average precipitation.
This view of Australia’s Lake Eyre was taken from the space shuttle Columbia in 1990 during the STS-35 mission. The lake covers about 3,600 square miles and is the lowest point in Australia at about 50 feet below sea level.It also is an ephemeral salt lake that receives less than 5 inches of annual average precipitation. Records indicate that the lake has only been completely filled with water three times in the 20th century-in 1950, 1974 and 1984. Part of the shuttle cargo bay is visible along the right edge of the image.Image Credit: NASA