I can't guarantee the accuracy of this but I've heard that soon one sixth of Australia is soon to be underwater as South Australia's Lake Eyre fills with water from flooding rains in Queensland. If you combine the land area of France, Germany and Italy, you will have the approximate size of the Lake Eyre Basin. Or for you less European types, five times the size of the UK.
Australia is a large country and it is hard to imagine 1/6th of the area underwater.
The lake receives water once in how ever many years or even decades and only after large and often destructive flooding.
On average the lake fills completely only three times a century, so it is quite a remarkable event. The last filling of the lake was in 1974, although it has received quite a bit more than usual water this century. Meanwhile in my state of Victoria and much of South Australia, parts are close to drought conditions.
The main tributaries are the innocuously named Cooper Creek, the Diamantina River, the Georgina River, the Bulloo River and the Paroo River, all flowing from the north east and turning the normally dry salt flats into a green oasis. Along the way it fills many natural water reservoirs and helps to replenish Australia's underground Great Artesian Basin.
This map by ABC Australia shows the extent of Lake Eyre Basin.
The creatures hidden away in dried mud for years come alive and birds locally and from overseas somehow know the lake is full of water and visit. And you know what happens when conditions are so good and food aplenty for creatures great and small? Yes, breeding. Some birds fly in from as far away as Siberia. How do they know it is flooded? I don't know. Get your Google busy.
It is a truly remarkable event in Australia, but certainly not a new one.
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Coincidentally my eldest brother and his wife are heading off next week to see Lake Eyre in its unusual wet state. They are particularly looking forward to seeing the birds and the wildlife. I envy them a bit.
ReplyDeleteEC, that sounds wonderful but I've always wondered if you are on land, how much can you see. Zooming around in a helicopter might be my choice.
DeleteThat’s something, how a place that’s usually bone dry can suddenly become this teeming, temporary world. It’s like nature quietly reminding us it still runs the show out there.
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing. Off to get my Google on!
ReplyDeleteDebby, I'm pleased you found it interesting.
DeleteAustralia is a very unique country. Quite amazing and endlessly fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThe residents are endlessly fascinating JayCee. Me! Me! Me!
DeleteIt’s astonishing to think how slow and powerful nature can be
ReplyDeleteRontare, the slowness of the water really struck me.
DeleteI am so amazed when you see pictures when there is water there. I have read that fish suddenly appear , nature is amazing . We have at the moment widespread areas of drought , floods and snow all at the same time plus lovely weather in northern Australia . …
ReplyDeleteI think the fish might come down with the waters, but I don't know.
DeleteMother Nature always keeps things interesting.
ReplyDeleteShe does indeed, Deb.
DeleteI remember last year there was a dry lake bed in California that, because of a lot of rain, filled with water. An amazing sight compared to its usual state.
ReplyDeleteBob, such nature events are very exciting.
DeleteIt's like the amazing flowers which spring up in the desert after a storm. Just waiting for the right conditions.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Boud. There will be so many flowers.
DeleteAmazing, not only the photo of the flooding, but how birds and animals have adapted over the centuries to deal with the rare floods. Truly amazing.
ReplyDeletePixie, and no doubt our indigenous population welcomed the waters for what it would provide.
DeleteYou know, I don't think I realized just how large Australia is. And doesn't it drive you crazy when one area is flooding and the other is in drought? It would be grand if all countries had an underground water system to redistribute water, wouldn't it? YOU, have a special one.
ReplyDeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Sandra, fires, drought and floods is Australia. For water distribution, the piping would be very long. Desalination plants are the way we have gone.
DeleteI have friends visiting the area now. I’d love to see it in flood one day; it must be an amazing sight! Bunyip
ReplyDeleteAnyone I know Bunyip? It should be quite amazing.
DeleteAll those flooded rivers heading to Lake Eyre yet not one of them has any sort of catchment and pipeline arrangement, so all the waterwill eventually just drain away and the lake will dry up again. And again and again and again....
ReplyDeleteRiver, quite so, and the water doesn't go south to the rest of SA where it is badly needed. Is it practical to take water from Lake Eyre? I don't know.
DeleteI expect research is going on to look at ways of conserving this water for times of drought. It seems madness that water is allowed to evaporate when it is desperately needed elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteFun60, the problem with that is the water is so far away from large cities. I am not sure that taking water away from evaporating lakes is a good idea. The evaporation has been happening for hundreds of thousands of years. Should humans interfere? Beyond what we have already done to the climate.
DeleteIt seems catchment of water is neglected by governments, they do in this country as well. Then there is panic when drought is declared. Amazing how nature works.
ReplyDeleteThelma, it is a very natural phenomenon and I don't like the idea of any human interference with what happens.
DeleteAmazing is nature, Andrew. Love to see the wildlife as the lake dries up, it would be fascinating.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, yes, that would be the best time to see what happens, as the water evaporates.
DeleteThe second time in our lifetimes, time to go see it. Planes, trains, automobiles, it may be your last chance to see it in this lifetime.
ReplyDeleteTP, my feet seem glued to the floor of my home at the moment. I am trying to imagine travel.
DeleteHow deep does it get? 17 meters below sea level!!! It's a natural catchment and drain through evaporation. But how do birds so far away know about it?
ReplyDeleteI don't know Strayer but I would not think very deep. The lake bed is not entirely flat so it will vary.
DeleteI've checked Strayer and it six metres, say 20 feet.
DeleteThat is very interesting. I had no idea. You know the scene in "Priscilla" when they stop and swim in the lake? I wonder if that was Lake Eyre? They were coming from Broken Hill and headed to Alice Springs, so it seems to make sense.
ReplyDeleteSteve, yes it does make sense but practically they would have not used the lake. If there was water in the lake, they might have used Lake Menindee, which feeds water to Broken Hill.
DeleteI was wondering how deep it gets too, Andrew. What an unusual thing it is.
ReplyDeleteI've just checked Pat and it is six metres.
DeleteI had learned at school that Europe fits 5 times into Australia, which indeed is enormous. When I think that the Belgians when they have to drive 15 km find that very far away !! Here it hasn't rained since 3 weeks and the farmers are complaining.
ReplyDeleteIngrid, I am sure you aren't complaining about the weather. Don't worry, I will still complain about driving 15 km.
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