There’s no easy way to describe what it is like to be present in a geological feature so vast and all encompassing that when you stand in the middle of it the horizon simply blends into the sky no matter which direction you turn. Seemingly immeasurable in scope, this ancient lake literally sinks into the heart of the land well below the level of the sea and holds tenure to being the deepest land point in Australia. The sun bakes its clay surface and shallow waters with such a fierce intensity that the resultant cycle of evaporation forms layer upon layer of salted crusts. Such a harsh environment can appear largely devoid of life, yet on occasion it can be transformed by one-off local weather events or heavy monsoonal rains that travel for months down the drainage basin from as far as South East Queensland. Water begins to fill the shallow bays and arid inlets. Life blooms where cracked earth once stood. Richly coloured algae’s flourish, fresh vegetation bursts forth and vast flocks of migratory birds arrive from the world over to bathe in its uniqueness. We were lucky enough to experience one of these events. Due to its massive breadth and limited vehicle access, taking to the air was both a logical and aesthetically beautiful choice in how best to capture and experience the lake’s many intricacies.
When you take to the air its true complexity, variety and immensity is breathtakingly revealed. Salt deposits, eroded channels and inlets, layers of sediment and algal blooms provide endlessly subtle variations of texture, lines, pattern and colour. The dreamtime story of the Arabana people tells of how the lake was formed from the skin of a kangaroo where it was laid down in place after being hunted and killed. You can almost imagine this as you witness the immense array of worn, dried and wrinkled folds in the terrain. A strong sense of spirit seems to emanate from this land. Mysterious shapes and outlines reveal themselves as you pass over them, speaking to you in quiet whispers of perhaps more than what can be seen. We invite you to travel through this sensual visual narrative and reflect on our interpretations of the deeply captivating and somewhat mystical landscape that is Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre.
