Lake Macleod, Australia – December 28th, 2008
In this image we have a fine view of the coast of Western Australia.
The large, white area is Lake Macleod, the westernmost lake in Australia, north of the small coastal city of Carnarvon.
To the south of the lake is Shark Bay, and the greener area towards the bottom of the image is Kalbarri National Park.
Climatically, this part of Western Australia is greatly influenced by the north-flowing Western Australian current that brings cool water northward from Antarctica, which is not conducive to producing inland precipitation.
This cool offshore current, coupled with a very flat coastal plain, contributes to the near-desert-like conditions along the coastal region as evidenced by the red-brown landscape around the lake and the highly reflective, white salt beds within the lake.
The low point in the lake appears to be near the northern end where the light green indicates some standing water.
Close inspection discloses very faint lines at the southernmost end of Lake Macleod where large evaporation beds are used for the production of high-quality salt.