SPACEPHOTOS

Cooper Creek, one of many ephemeral rivers that flow across the central drainage basins of southwestern Queensland and southeastern Northern Territory, flows only after infrequent, prolonged, heavy rains. Most of the rivers, like the generally south-flowing Cooper Creek, traverse a landscape that has little local relief and terrain elevations that rarely exceed 200 feet (61 meters). The arid climate, coupled with very flat relief, promotes the development of extensive, braided streambeds and broad floodplains. The darker area shows the channeling or streamlining through the scrubby vegetation and some algae development within the floodplain. Because of the arid environment, evaporation plays a major role in water loss throughout this region of Australia.