Nature’s colors and patterns make for a vivid display

Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses – especially, learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else."

― Leonardo da Vinci

Hashem is called the “Master Artist.” And there’s nothing like Creation to prove it. But we don’t usually think of Hashem’s natural art as also being abstract and modern. These places — and pictures — prove otherwise.

The Menindee Lakes

New South wales, Australia

NO, this isn’t a slab of marble… It’s a satellite image of the Menindee Lakes — or what’s left of them. This chain of nine freshwater lakes was used by the Australian government to manage overflow from the nearby Darling River. In 2016, they were nearly full. Just a few years later, they were almost entirely dried up.

Because of extreme drought brought on by hot temperatures and not nearly enough rain, the water storage level of the lakes dropped to one percent and even stopped flowing in some parts of the Darling River. Millions of dead fish were discovered floating belly up in the river in January 2019, killed by the conditions in the water. It was a true low for the water system — and one that could easily be seen by monitoring satellite photos of the area over the years. But there’s good news in recent years: The lakes are filling back up.

As of August 2021, the largest lake, Lake Menindee, had already reached 90 percent capacity. And you can see the others, like drops of milk in the red desert. Animals are returning to the area. But that doesn’t mean the area is in the clear. Building and industry in the area leave the water system and its wildlife in danger. Seeing those “drops” out in the desert, one gets a perspective on just how fragile that ecosystem is.