Murray-Sunset National Park
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Murray-Sunset National Park Victoria |
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IUCN category II (national park)
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Pink Lakes (salt lakes) in the national park.
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 Murray-Sunset National Park
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| Nearest town or city | Mildura |
| Coordinates | 34°46′06″S 141°51′15″E / 34.76833°S 141.85417°ECoordinates: 34°46′06″S 141°51′15″E / 34.76833°S 141.85417°E |
| Established | 26 April 1979 |
| Area | 6,330 km2 (2,444.0 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Parks Victoria |
| Website | Murray-Sunset National Park |
| See also | Protected areas of Victoria |
The Murray-Sunset National Park is the second largest national park in Victoria, Australia, located in the Mallee district in the northwestern corner of the state, bordering South Australia. The 633,000-hectare (1,560,000-acre) national park is situated approximately 440 kilometres (270 mi) northwest of Melbourne and was proclaimed on 26 April 1979. It is in the northwestern corner of the state, bordering South Australia to the west and the Murray River to the north. The Sturt Highway passes through the northern part of the park, but most of the park is in the remote area between the Sturt Highway and the Mallee Highway, west of the Calder Highway.
The park was created in 1991, and expanded to encompass Pink Lakes State Park in 1999. The lakes are dubbed "pink" after the beta-carotene pigment that colours it in late summer, caused by the algae Dunaliella salina. This area was the site of a major salt industry from 1916 to 1975. At its peak, ten thousand tons of salt was harvested and railed from Lake Crosbie, Lake Becking and Lake Kenyon to the nearby town of Linga. For management purposes, the Murray-Sunset National Park is managed with the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Wyperfeld National Park, Lake Albacutya Park and Murray-Kulkyne Park as part of the Victorian Mallee Parks.
Another defunct railway, the Nowingi line, terminates at the remains of a gypsum mine hopper on the Raak Plain. Other historical relics include Shearer's Quarters and Mopoke Hut, built as grazier accommodation in the 1960s.
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