Australian salt lakes from above
© Philippe Bourseiller/The Image Bank/Getty Image
One for the bucket list. A local lake with a salty twist
We know what you’re thinking: that’s one astral-looking lake. But then again, Lake Eyre (known officially as Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre) is far from your typical swim spot. Formed around 200 million years ago, it’s Australia’s largest salt lake, covering an area that is 144km long, 77km wide, and 15.2 metres below sea level - making it the lowest point in the Australian continent.When water is plentiful, Lake Eyre acts as a breeding site for animals capable of handling the increased levels of salinity, including waterbirds like pelicans, silver gulls and red-necked avocets. As water begins to evaporate, on the other hand, the lake slowly crystallises and adopts a bright pink hue that is the result of a pigment found within a type of salt-loving algae. When the water is especially low, you’ll need to hop on a plane to gain the best views, and who can say no to a little airborne adventure?
Related Images
La Digue, an island in the Seychelles
Sunset at Counts Point in West MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia
The distinctive roof of the British Museum and the surrounding area
The village of Aguerd Oudad and the larger town of Tafraout in Morocco
Mua Caves in the Ninh Bình province of Vietnam
The Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China
Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival, which begins today
Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state
Bing Today Images
