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The Barkindji Biosphere Reserve is an evocative combination of Murray
River, wetlands, red gum and box forests, chenopod plains, salt lakes
and sand dunes. Within a relatively small area, visitors can experience
the River humming with bird life, the quiet ancient forests where it
seems time has stood still, and contrasting saltbush plains extending
to the horizon. Some parts of the Reserve are unique remnants of the
last ice age. Other areas have trees up to 3,500 years old. Aboriginal
people have lived in the area for over 40,000 years, and there are many
significant cultural sites and examples of Aboriginal culture and life.
The fragile soils of the semi-arid areas have been affected by wind
and agricultural activities. Salinity is a particular problem: the area’s
most significant groundwater aquifer is highly saline as a result of
the millions of tonnes of salt that have accumulated in the Murray Darling
Basin – Australia’s major water system - over its geological
history.
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