With a surface area of 1,980 square kilometres (764 sq mi), it is the second largest lake in Western Australia.

[4] Like most of the clay playas in the area, it is usually dry but can fill when tropical cyclones become rain-bearing depressions after they cross the coast.

When the lake is nearly full or overflowing, at least five of the islands may support large numbers of breeding birds, particularly the banded stilt.

Forrest's party, which was searching for the lost explorer Ludwig Leichhardt, became bogged while trying to cross the salt lake.

[8] Other waterbirds known to breed at the lake include the black swan, Australian shelduck, pink-eared duck, white-headed stilt, and red-capped plover.