It doesn’t happen often, but when it does hoo-boy is it a sight to behold. Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre has copped a good soaking of rain for the first time in years, and the whole area has bloomed in an array of gorgeous colours thanks to a bunch of algae that’s sprung to life after a good drink.
It is Australia‘s natural lowest point, sitting 15m below sea level, and is normally quite an arid, drought-stricken area – except for when the area cops a good rain and floods once every five to ten years. Located in the northern end of South Australia, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre has the same level of saltiness as the ocean when it’s full, but when the water evaporates it becomes a vast expanse of salt plains, like saltier than a when you get to an event and someone’s wearing the same thing as you but better.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlF67IBHZ27/
After a big tropical downpour in Queensland earlier this year, the floodwaters have moved quietly down towards the lowest point, because all creeks lead to Kati Thanda (thank you gravity) and collected in the big salty basin.
From there, lake algae – that somehow lies dormant when the water dries up and the salt levels intensify – has sprung back into action, blooming madly and creating incredible, deeply photogenic landscapes that look more like watercolour art than actual real-life places that you can see and touch. Brilliant hues of blue, pink, orange and white splash over the country’s biggest lake, which only completely fills up once every 160ish years.
The best way to see all the gorgeous gradients is to get above it in a plane or helicopter, which gives you the best view to take a billion photos to chuck up on insta and make everyone deeply jealous.
Brb booking a road trip to Coober Pedy asap.
