Saturday, September 15, 2012

Lake Eyre Basin





All these photos are the work  of  Angelika Wegner.
Central South Australia is mainly desert today but 100 million years ago it was lush green forest around many interconnected lakes.
These days it's flat and barren with little or no life to be seen, the lakes are still there now as salt flats. Occasionally a dry river or creek will flood down from far off Queensland bringing fish, turtles and bird life to the countries centre. When this happens Australians and tourists alike flock to the lakes to see Pelicans and other sea birds breeding in unbelievable numbers. 
The evaporation rate is far higher than any rainfall, so over time the lakes have concentrated salts from far off places. The salts are many metres deep and in fact the lakes are up to 15 metres below current sea levels.
Australia would be a very different place if the lakes were permanently full again….





This photo is actually Opal Fields, mining stretching back over 100 years.










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8 comments:

Twisted Scottish Bastard said...

When we were over in Oz last year, there had been unusual weather, and as we flew over the center, from Cairns to Alice, we could see new lakes being formed.

Sorry mate, but I prefer a country with a bit more green.

The pictures were great, but it all looks a bit dry and brown.

Tempo said...

I well remember my first visit to New Zealand TSB, I could not believe you actually mowed the edge of the highways and I never saw one straight, flat stretch of road. What a beautiful country NZ is, I'd love to go back again.

River said...

It's quite pretty in spite of being so dry and brown, red and yellow.

Tempo said...

Hi River, from the air it's very beautiful, Having driven through it many times though it's not so nice in 50degree heat, covered in sweat and flies with more dust up your nose than on the roads...

The Jules said...

Blimey, makes me want to visit more than ever. Gawjus pickchas.

Joe Pereira said...

Its like scenes from Mars - beautiful pics

Tempo said...

Hi Jules, You might change your mind when you realise how many flies you will have to spit out between Sydney and the outback.
I agree Joe, very strange and inhospitable place, the fact that the Aboriginal peoples lived out there continues to amaze me. I went in an air conditioned car with refrigerated foods, tents etc and still found it hard to cope.

River said...

I remember the heat and dust. Many years ago I took a ride through similar territory with a truckie friend, delivering loads of bricks and stuff, I don't remember exactly where we went, but we were way up past Woomera. All around us was red dust and Sturt Desert Pea flowers. We had to keep the truck windows closed because of the dust and flies although not too many flies could land on a moving truck, they'd descend in swarms when we stopped to eat or pee.