Dalhousie Springs

Dalhousie Hot Springs - South Australia

Dalhousie Springs is a group of over 60 natural artesian springs located in Witjira National Park on the western fringe of the Simpson Desert, 180 kilometres northeast of Oodnadatta in northern South Australia. These are the largest artesian springs in Australia and are of national and international significance. Dalhousie Springs are so isolated from other bodies of permanent water that they contain many endemic animals.

The Dalhousie Springs has Aboriginal significance being part of a series of Dreamtime Stories involving 3 species of fish which only live in the Dalhousie Springs.

Witjira-Dalhousie Springs was added to the Australian National Heritage List in August 2009.

There are approximately 100 springs and mounds at Dalhousie, of which about 80 are active and are spread over an area of only about 70 km sq. Some springs have such large outflows that the group as a whole accounts for about 43% of the natural flow of water from the Great Artesian Basin. Some of the springs have large pools at their source, others are cold seeps. Long drainage channels from the larger springs become extensive swamplands which like the spring mounds and pools, support a lush vegetation.

 

Dalhousie Springs is located in the Witjira National Park, South Australia.