The Murray-Sunset National Park is the second largest national park in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the Mallee district, in the northwestern corner of the state, and borders South Australia. The park covers 633,000 hectares (1,560,000 acres) and is about 440 kilometers (270 miles) northwest of Melbourne. It was established in 1991. The park lies in the northwestern part of Victoria, with South Australia to the west and the Murray River to the north. The Sturt Highway runs through the northern section of the park, but most of the area is in a remote region between the Sturt Highway and the Mallee Highway, which is west of the Calder Highway.

History

The park was established in 1991 and later expanded to include Pink Lakes State Park in 1999. The lakes are called "pink" because of the beta-carotene pigment, which gives them their color during late summer. This pigment comes from algae called Dunaliella salina. This area was an important salt production site from 1916 to 1975. At its busiest, 10,000 tons of salt were collected from Lake Crosbie, Lake Becking, and Lake Kenyon and transported by rail to the nearby town of Linga. For management purposes, Murray-Sunset National Park is grouped with Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Wyperfeld National Park, Lake Albacutya Park, and Murray-Kulkyne Park as part of the Victorian Mallee Parks.

Another abandoned railway, the Nowingi line, ends at the remains of a gypsum mine hopper on the Raak Plain. Other historical items include Shearer's Quarters and Mopoke Hut, which were built as living spaces for people who raised livestock in the 1960s.

Flora and fauna

Over 600 types of plants and 300 types of birds have been recorded in the area. Some important plants include Murray lily, silvery emu-bush, saltbush, buloke, porcupine grass, blue-leaved mallee, and other mallee eucalypts. In spring, wildflowers such as spider orchids, azure sun orchids, desert heath-myrtles, and poached-egg daisies can be seen.

Emus, wedge-tailed eagles, western grey kangaroos, and red kangaroos live in the area.

Most of the park is located within the Murray-Sunset, Hattah, and Annuello Important Bird Area (IBA). This area was identified by BirdLife International because it contains mallee habitat that supports a group of threatened mallee bird species, including the malleefowl, black-eared miner, and mallee emu-wren.

Attractions

The park is a popular place for bushwalkers because it is the closest dry area to Melbourne. Walks include loops around Lake Crosbie and Lake Kenyon, and a three-day hike called the Sunset walking track. There is not much groundwater, so hikers usually use water stored in tanks that rangers keep filled.

The Pink Lakes are moderately sized salt lakes. During late summer, a red pigment called carotene is released by the algae Dunaliella salina, which makes the lakes appear bright pink.