western australia

A causeway through a salt lake

@JudyEv (352842)

Rockingham, Australia

June 7, 2023 8:22pm CST

On our way home on the weekend, we passed through Lake Grace and Lake King, areas that have a lot of salt lakes. Our road went through the middle of one of the lakes and locals call this the ‘causeway’. There were tyre tracks before this point where some deluded souls had thought they might drive on the salt surface. This is possible in summer but not immediately after one of the wettest days on record. The tracks went in about 20 metres, getting deeper all the while then they stopped. I guess they backed out or were pulled out. I wonder if they’ve learnt their lesson.

24 people like this

26 responses

@AmbiePam (97950)

• United States

8 Jun 23

I really the like the picture you captured.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 23

Thanks. I took it through the windscreen as you might have gathered.

3 people like this

@AmbiePam (97950)

• United States

8 Jun 23

@JudyEv It's still amazing quality!

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

@AmbiePam Thanks. I did think the clouds looked nice.

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@DaddyEvil (147613)

• United States

8 Jun 23

Oh, that's funny! I hope they enjoyed themselves, at least.

4 people like this

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@DaddyEvil (147613)

• United States

8 Jun 23

It was an adventure, at least.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 23

It was probably the highlight of their day.

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@snowy22315 (189103)

• United States

8 Jun 23

You can drive on the lake surface? That is a new one on me!

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@snowy22315 (189103)

• United States

9 Jun 23

@JudyEv It kind of sounds like the Bonneville Salt flats they have out in Utah.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

In the summer it hardens up. Donald Campbell set a world land speed record on a salt lake in this area.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jun 23

@snowy22315 I made a mistake. It was a water speed record that Donald Campbell broke but it was on one of the salt lakes nearby,

2 people like this

@ptrikha_2 (47848)

• India

8 Jun 23

Some might have learnt their lessons the hard way! The presence of many Salt lakes is interesting. Is the salt due to the closeness of Seas/oceans?

3 people like this

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@ptrikha_2 (47848)

• India

8 Jun 23

@JudyEv Similar Salt pans areas exist in Gujarat, a western state of India. Salt extraction and packaging is done there. Is a similar thing done in or around these things in Australia?

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 23

I think the water table is too close to the surface. If the land is cleared, then sometimes it becomes salty. I know if farmers clear too close to salt land then the salt spreads. These lakes are naturally formed though.

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@rebelann (113912)

• El Paso, Texas

8 Jun 23

Another of those stupid human tricks ..... I'll bet they haven't learnt their lesson.

3 people like this

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@rebelann (113912)

• El Paso, Texas

8 Jun 23

Yeah, even a campout would be hard there. Your shot would fit a song about a road that goes nowhere, it seems like theres nothing on the other end of that road.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

@rebelann There is about 40 miles of straight road then a wobble through a town then another 40-odd straight.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 23

They probably just find it fun and entertaining. There's not much else to do out there.

3 people like this

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@RubyHawk (99397)

• Atlanta, Georgia

8 Jun 23

The causeway looks dangerous without any buffers to keep cars from tipping off the road.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 23

I guess maybe someone goes off the edge but it's not a big drop.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

@RubyHawk Not really. Not unless you were going really fast.

3 people like this

@RubyHawk (99397)

• Atlanta, Georgia

8 Jun 23

@JudyEv Maybe not life threatening then.

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@GardenGerty (163399)

• United States

8 Jun 23

So as I understand this, the causeway has been built and is driveable, but someone tried to drive on the lake itself? And likely got stuck? We have done things like that, only not quite in the mud and water.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

Yes, that's correct. Young lads with 4WDs like to try out their vehicles and would egg each other on to drive on the lake itself.

2 people like this

@allknowing (145274)

• India

8 Jun 23

Your photo is stunning

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

Thanks. I'm glad you like it.

3 people like this

@RasmaSandra (84712)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

9 Jun 23

That is interesting I have never heard of any roadway like that,

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

In one place, there seems even less road but we couldn't really stop to take a photo.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (226269)

• Walnut Creek, California

8 Jun 23

I drive by the Great Salt Lake in Utah each Summer on the way to Montana. I find it...odd. No comment on the dummies.

3 people like this

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@TheHorse (226269)

• Walnut Creek, California

9 Jun 23

@JudyEv Across it, I think. Interstate 80. But most of the deep water is to the North.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

Is there a road across it or just round it?

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (318816)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

8 Jun 23

I'm sure they did. At least I hope they did. Nice picture of the causeway.

3 people like this

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (318816)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

9 Jun 23

@JudyEv I'm glad they didn't too. They might not have been able to get out.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

It was amusing to see the tracks suddenly stop. I'm glad they didn't go any further. I'm glad you like the photo.

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@andriaperry (118753)

• Anniston, Alabama

8 Jun 23

I hope they did. Awesome photo!

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

Thanks. This lot might not try it again but the next generation will have to learn their own lessons I guess.

2 people like this

@zainkhan121 (859)

• Pakistan

8 Jun 23

those drivers must have been pretty bold to think they could cruise on a salt lake! Mother Nature clearly had other plans for them. I hope they learned their lesson and won't be attempting any more salt lake adventures in the future.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

It would be okay in the summer when the lake is thoroughly dry.

2 people like this

@CarolDM (203410)

• Nashville, Tennessee

9 Jun 23

What a beautiful place to visit. Maybe they should put up signs to keep out. Many here will drive right through several feet of standing water. Some don't survive.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

It would be the 'local lads' looking for a bit of excitement that would try driving on the salt. In summer, it would be okay but not once it gets a bit of rain on it.

3 people like this

@CarolDM (203410)

• Nashville, Tennessee

9 Jun 23

@JudyEv Some have to always push the envelope it seems.

2 people like this

@RebeccasFarm (94527)

• Arvada, Colorado

8 Jun 23

That salt can rust out cars..that happened to me when I lived at the beach Judy.

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@RebeccasFarm (94527)

• Arvada, Colorado

9 Jun 23

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@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

Yes, that can happen here too. But the young ones don't think about the rust - just as they don't worry about destroying their tyres doing 'blackies'.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jun 23

@RebeccasFarm As they say - fools and their money are soon parted.

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@jstory07 (143847)

• Roseburg, Oregon

9 Jun 23

I would think that they did learn their lesson.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

They should have learnt from the lessons of their fathers when they were young. I'm sure every generation of farmers' sons in this area try the same thing at least once in their lives. lol

2 people like this

@Juliaacv (53263)

• Canada

8 Jun 23

People here do that but during the winter and it is on frozen rivers. Sometimes the ice cannot support what they drive and it is lost below the ice.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

This lake dries out totally in summer but gets boggy in winter.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (473955)

• Switzerland

8 Jun 23

Oh my goodness, it's just those who think that it's safe to drive on a frozen lake. NOT when winter ends.

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@LadyDuck (473955)

• Switzerland

9 Jun 23

@JudyEv The frozen lakes are safe here during winter. As soon as the temperature goes up it's better not to take risks.

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@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

In Australia, the lakes are safe in the summer when they dry out.

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@moffittjc (124220)

• Gainesville, Florida

8 Jun 23

When asked why they did it, they probably said, “Because it was there!” Haha

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

Yes, that would be about right. It would be young lads having some fun.

2 people like this

@moffittjc (124220)

• Gainesville, Florida

11 Jun 23

@JudyEv Yes, I remember the days of my youth well. I probably would have done the same thing.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Jun 23

@moffittjc Their Dads would have done the same and maybe even their grandads although cars would have been more highly valued in those days.

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@Dena91 (16924)

• United States

9 Jun 23

Mike and I have been watching videos of people doing some dumb things, some intentional some not so much. I am amazed at some of the things people do. Hopefully whoever drove on it learned a lesson.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352842)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 23

They will probably try it again in the summer and get away with it.

2 people like this