It is Australia's second largest lake when filled with water[1] and encompasses an area of 5,745 square kilometres (2,218 sq mi).

[7] It is a pastoral property, but an important area for birds such as the red-capped plover and cinnamon quail-thrush, and other islands host banded stilts and others.

Its name, along with Carrapateena, reflect "the earliest known and identifiable cultural associations to Lake Torrens", according to a 2016 court judgement.

[2] In a 2016 case in the Supreme Court of South Australia, the lake was noted as an sacred site and ownership was contested by three claimant groups: the Kokatha, Adnyamathanha/Kuyani and Barngarla peoples.

[23] In April 2017 Kelaray, a subsidiary of mining company Argonaut Resources, secured native title permission to do exploratory drilling for iron, copper and gold under the lake, intending to work with traditional owners to “preserve and protect” important sites.

[24] In February 2018, the South Australian Environment, Resources and Development (ERD) Court granted authority to enter and undertake mining operations (exploration) within those parts of the western area of the lake defined in an application by Argonaut.

[13] In January 2021, the state government under Steven Marshall granted permission to Kelaray to conduct drilling on the lake,[27] over an area including Murdie Island, part of Andamooka Island, and part of Carrapateena Arm,[11][25] after they had made an application under Section 23 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988, "to damage, disturb or interfere with any Aboriginal sites, objects or remains".

[31] In the same week, the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation launched legal action to put a stop to the drilling, on the grounds that it is "one of the most significant cultural sites in South Australia".