This week's PhotoHunter theme is open.
There are a lot of wide open spaces here in Australia. This photo is of the Nullarbor Plain, the world's largest limestone karst landscape that occupies an area of about 200,000 square kilometers in the southwestern part of the continent. The name Nullarbor derives from Latin and means no (nullus) trees (arbor). With only a few hardy, drought-resistant and salt tolerant shrubs to block the view the Nullarbor is the perfect example of a wide open space.
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So... the 200,000 square kilometers more or less looks like this? Goodness, it looks desolate... and yet I also realize that it probably is teeming with life of some sort or other!
ReplyDelete200,000 km? Sometimes I find it hard to get my head around the sheer size of Australia. What a desolate but beautiful place
ReplyDeleteThat is an awesome and educational take on the open theme! I guess the Latin name really does sum it up rather well!
ReplyDeleteMy entry is here:
http://www.bristolwood.net/
what a great shot for this week's theme. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHi Maya, very cool shot and a great take on the theme. Almost reminds me of the mojave desert here in So. California. The Latin name seems to be a perfect description. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend.
Australia is amazing. How much of the Nullarbor did you drive/visit? I do like the open spaces but I think the Nullarbor would be a bit too much even for us. And thanks for the explanation of the name. I always assumed it was an Aboriginal Australian name.
ReplyDeleteYSTL, that is pretty much it. Of course there is life, but mostly nocturnal. However, if you are lucky you may see a camel during the day and if you cross it in winter there is one section where the southern right whale can be seen hanging out in the water at the base of the cliffs that drop to the ocean.
ReplyDeleteJams, I thought I knew what wide open spaces were coming from the New Mexico--but I continue to be amazed at the size of Australia. Once in the Outback we drove for 7 hours and passed one other car and a couple of 'roos.
Katya, the name is perfect.
Kathy, I haven't been to the mojave desert but I imagine it is similar.
Marta, I've crossed the Nullarbor twice. Once by car (7 days Perth to Adelaide) and the other by train (2 days Perth to Adelaide). It was one of the most amazing experiences. I'm not sure if I would drive it again, but if the train wasn't so expensive I would do it in a second!