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Water
is the most precious commodity
we
have. We drink it, we wash in it, we
grow
things with it, use it in industrial
and
manufacturing and sculpt it into
shapes
that please us.
Water
is the most fascinating substance
and I
love to photograph it in many forms. |
Water is one
of the most important of all natural
resources.
It is vital for all living organisms and major
ecosystems,
as well as human health, food production
and economic
development. Difficult to purify,
expensive to
transport and impossible to substitute,
water is
essential to life. It is a precious resource that has too long been
taken for granted.
What’s the
situation with the world’s water?
Clean water
is not an infinite resource. There is a fixed
amount which
cannot be increased, yet it is constantly
under threat
from overuse and pollution. In the past
100 years
the world population tripled, but water use
increased
sixfold1 . Rivers and lakes are stretched to
their limits
– many of them dammed, dried up or
polluted.
With groundwater taking an average of 1400
years
to be replaced, aquifers are being drained far
faster than
their natural rate of recharge. Eighty
countries,
accounting for 40% of the world’s population, already experience
serious water shortages.
Despite
improvements about one-sixth of the world’s population doesn’t have
access to safe water and half of do not have access to adequate
sanitation. Australians use a million litres of water per person per
year while those in water scarce places such as the Middle East have
access to less than one thousand litres per person per year.
HERE ARE SOME
PHOTOS LAKES JINDABYNE AND EUCUMBENE!
Water splashing through rocks makes its way downstream until it
finally finds the ocean!
Light is caught in the cascading water and a tree root is well
positioned to soak up the precious commodity.
Light is caught in the cascading water and a tree root is well
positioned to soak up the precious commodity.
Water slowly drips from a sandstone ledge.
Water falling over a rock makes an interesting pattern with bubbles
making ripples at the base of the pool.
Water is the perfect mirror but as water is disturbed it can distort
the image.
The image in this pool is certainly not disturbed.
Rain hangs from this vine ready to fall to the ground of to be
evaporated to the sky.
This stream of water flows magically through the boulders in its
way.
Waterfalls cascade through mossy rocks.
Early morning mist makes the lake look like something out of a poem!
Usually these trees are covered with water but because the water is
so low in
Lake Eucumbene they are uncovered. Trees like this provide a habitat
for many of the
crustations that trout feed on as well as providing shelter for the
trout themselves.
With the red earthen edges of the land and the clear blue of the
water and the sky, being on the lake is a
peaceful experience. You can see how low the lake is as the water
usually comes right up to the tree line.
Dead trees litter the edge of the lake uncovered and waiting to
return to their watery world.
A small fishing boat sits by the trees and fishermen wait for a
bite.
A small waterhen, one of the many waterbirds to live on the lake,
comes by to check me out!
This brown mountain duck swims by, hopeful for a morsel of food!
A cormorant dries his wings and suns himself before his next dive!
Three seagulls fly close to the water as they head for home just
before dusk!
Sunsets never cease to amaze me! This one certainly didn't
leave me disapointed.
Another Snowy Mountains sunset stands like a painting against the
evening sky!
Another sunset graces the sky over Lake Eucumbene!
Another sunset graces the sky over Lake Eucumbene!
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