It is situated approximately south west of
Innamincka and north east of
Marree. Both Lake Hope and nearby Red Lake are on the southern side of the
Cooper Creek in the
sand dune country. Both are also found within the boundaries of
Mulka and Lake Hope Stations. The lakes are both within the
Lake Eyre basin and a fishing licence has been issued for each of the lakes for an operation out of Mulka Station. The licence allows the removal of of Lake Eyre
golden perch,
Welch's grunter and the
Barcoo grunter but only once the lakes have disconnected from the Cooper Creek after a flood event. When full the lake occupies an area of approximately and is approximately long. The lake is filled periodically from the flooding of Cooper Creek. In 1990 waters from Cooper Creek reached Lake Hope but did not reach
Lake Eyre. The
traditional owners name for the lake is
Pando penunie, which means great lake. The first Europeans to discover the lake were S. J. and R. J. Stuckey in October 1859. The named the lake because they hoped for greater fortune in the future.
Thomas Elder took up the first
pastoral lease in the area in 1860. Lake Hope is located within the boundaries of the
wetland system known as the
Coongie Lakes, which is both listed internationally under the
Ramsar Convention and within Australia with an identical listing in "
A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia". ==See also==