The Deep Wells of the Outback

Artesian water seeps through the red earth and fills outback waterholes. It creates a link between what we see of the landscape on the surface, and the Artesian Basin that we know lies beneath. The dark water in outback swimming holes is cold and deep. Red rocks rise around these waterholes, touching the sky, creating a stunning sight in the dying light of day when sunset burns their surface orange.

The Great Artesian Basin sits below the surface of the earth and covers 1.7 million square kilometres of the Australian continent. Its water escapes to the surface through cracks and flows into waterholes, streams, and gorges. The basin lies beneath the surface of parts of the Northern Territory, Queensland, and New South Wales. Most of the water leaks out of the basin at its edge, where it is closest to the surface. 

The Artesian water in outback waterholes can be dangerous. More than once, someone has swum too far out and panicked or been shocked by the chill and died. Not all these bodies are recovered. Some locals wonder who or what entity takes these bodies that are never found. Where do they go? Why can't they be located? These questions are often unanswered, exacerbating the tragedy of drowning.

A popular respite from the heat.

However, for most people who venture out into the water, nothing untoward occurs. The temperature of the water remains steadfastly freezing all year round. In winter, it is too cold to swim in these waterholes. However, in summer when the heat is fierce, spending time in their currents is a balm. To feel so cold after feeling so hot provides a much-needed respite from the scorching dry. 

These waters are ancient. They have nursed life in the outback for millennia. They are of cultural importance to local traditional owners, dating back to the beginnings of the formation of this unique and stunning landscape. Most of the people who see them today do not know of their deep cultural significance or their history which dates back to the inception of time. If we look once, we see a waterhole; if we look twice, we see a place that cradles life and has a sacred meaning to a resilient people, who know and feel those depths more keenly than any of us who are recent visitors.

Outback waterholes are a feature of the desert. In a harsh environment, they provide hope and beauty. The landscape would not retain its identity without them. They are part of the desert; they always will be.