Kati Thanda - Lake Eyre

My reason for venturing so far into South Australia's far north, began months ago with floods in Queensland. That water has been flowing into Kati Thanda for a few months.  

Lake Eyre South remains dry, white-crusted with salt.

But Lake Eyre North, the largest part of Kati Thanda has filled to an estimated depth of 3 metres.

Some parts are green due to algae and silt.

The northern inlet creeks. The Warburton Groove.

There are birds down there. A few pelicans, not many as they somehow seem to know the water will not remain long enough for their chicks to hatch and mature. How do they know? 

We also saw flocks of Arctic Terns and black ducks but they were too small to show in photos.

The shadow of our plane on the water below.

Sunshine glistens on the surface.

In places the water is developing a pinkish tinge due to increasing salt levels and salt-loving bacteria.

In other places the water appears very blue.

It is massive. Over 9000 square kms. Lake Eyre North is 144kms long and 77kms wide.

Also massive is The Marree Man. The world's largest art work, according to our pilot. 4 kms long, 28 kms in circumference, carved into the landscape by persons unknown, discovered by a pilot in 1998. It would have required someone with a bulldozer, a gps system and a lot of diesel to create. 

Our plane. A Cessna fully loaded with 14 passengers. Everyone had a window seat.

Thsnks to Arid Air and pilot Teck for a fabulous, probably once-in-a-lifetime experience.

After two hours of flying, I refuelled Sally and we headed south for a few days with my granddaughters and then home Tassie.