1. How big was Lake Mungo?

Lake Mungo is part of the Willandra Lakes region located in New South Wales, Australia. During its peak, particularly during the last glacial period approximately 20,000 years ago, Lake Mungo was part of a larger system of interconnected lakes known collectively as the Willandra Lakes system. **Historical Size:** - **Combined Willandra Lakes System:** At its maximum extent, the entire Willandra Lakes system, including Lake Mungo, is estimated to have covered an area of up to **1,700 square kilometers (about 657 square miles)**. This expansive system was sustained by higher rainfall and lower evaporation rates during the wetter climatic conditions of the Pleistocene epoch. - **Individual Lake Mungo:** Specifically, Lake Mungo itself is believed to have spanned several hundred square kilometers at its largest. Estimates suggest that Lake Mungo alone may have covered an area of approximately **300 square kilometers (about 116 square miles)** during its most extensive phase. This made it one of the significant bodies of water within the Willandra Lakes system, supporting diverse ecosystems and attracting various flora and fauna. **Current Status:** Today, Lake Mungo is a dry lakebed, commonly referred to as a "playa," and forms part of the Mungo National Park. The current expanse of the dry basin is much smaller compared to its ancient size, reflecting the aridification of the region over thousands of years. The landscape now features sand dunes, salt flats, and barren plains, with remnants of its former aquatic environment preserved in the form of geological and archaeological sites. **Significance:** Lake Mungo is renowned not only for its geological history but also for its archaeological importance. It has yielded some of the oldest human remains and artifacts in Australia, providing valuable insights into early human habitation and environmental conditions in the region. **Comparison to Modern Lakes:** For perspective, modern large lakes such as Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre) in South Australia can fluctuate dramatically in size but can reach up to **9,500 square kilometers (about 3,668 square miles)** when fully inundated, making Lake Mungo's ancient size substantial but smaller in comparison to some of Australia's largest current lakes. **Conclusion:** Lake Mungo was a significant paleolake within the Willandra Lakes system, covering several hundred square kilometers during its peak. Its historical size underscores the dynamic climatic and environmental changes that have shaped the Australian landscape over tens of thousands of years.