Australia is not well endowed with natural lakes containing plentiful supplies of water. Both rainfall and runoff can be highly variable across the continent and so many rivers have had dams containing large reservoirs constructed on them, to meet water and power supply needs. These lakes are the largest waterbodies, whether natural or constructed. These lakes, held back by dams, are the largest waterbodies serving water and power supply needs.
Salt lakes are normally dry and appear as glittering sheets of salt stretching to the horizon.
Lake Eyre filled only three times last century, and Lake Torrens only once.