Soakage

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A soakage, or soak, is a source of water in Australian deserts.

It is called thus because the water generally seeps into the sand, and is stored there below, sometimes as part of an ephemeral river or creek system.

Soakages were important sources of water traditionally for Australian Aborigines in the desert. They would scoop out the sand or mud using a coolamon or woomera, often to a depth of several metres, until clean water gathered in the base of the hole. Knowing the precise location of each soakage was extremely valuable knowledge. It is also sometimes called a native well.