ALEXANDRINA, LAKE, in South Australia, forms with Lake Albert and the curious boomerang-shaped Coorong a series of extensive and shallow lagoons about the outlet of the River • Murray. (Lake Alexandrina : area, c. 220SCI.M. ; depth : 7–Ioft.; L. Albert: c. 64sq.m.; 3-6ft.) A relic of a sea-gulf—analogous to Spencer and St. Vincent gulfs—which penetrated northwards into what is now the lower Murray basin, Lake Alexandrina was formed by a (geologically) recent elevation of the coast line, so that now the Murray, lacking a "mouth" in the ordinary sense, can only be approached by an entrance over a shifting sand-bar carrying some 7-12ft. of water and beset with breakers. Moreover the large water-surface which these lakes expose, coupled with a sub arid climate (average annual temp. c. 61-62° ; average annual rainfall c. 22 in.) leads to an evaporation which has been esti mated at 42,00o million cu.ft. per annum (Lakes Alexandrina and Albert). This loss, which has normally to be borne by the River Murray system, is particularly felt in dry seasons. An intake of sea-water may then occur and adversely affect pastoral and agricultural interests for some distance upstream. Associated with certain incidents in the history of Australian exploration— notably that of Sturt's voyage of discovery down the Murrum bidgee-Murray in 1830—Lake Alexandrina is now chiefly of inter est as constituting one of Australia's national problems. The River Murray valley is of rapidly growing importance. Lack of a natural outlet by way of the mouth has encouraged, if it has not caused, the development of numerous railway lines which tap the river at various points along its course. The riparian States, and particu larly the capitals of those States, have vested interests which militate against the construction of a river-mouth port. This project, however, is appealing ever more insistently as one of national importance. Various solutions—notably a port at Goolwa served by a connecting canal—have been proposed. After being referred to various commissions and expert investigations, the question was discussed by Sir George Buchanan (Report on Trans port in Australia, vol. ii., 1927), and the matter was explicitly referred to by the Commonwealth Premier in a speech which was held by some to foreshadow action by the Commonwealth Gov ernment. Subsequently, the draining of Lake Albert was pro posed, and the conversion of its bed into agricultural land.