When people think of Australia they think of dryness and deserts. Well in the the eastern part of the Kimberley there is water aplenty.
The morning started with a beautiful cruise along the Ord River. The river and its banks are filled with a plethora of wildlife including crocodiles, bats, pelicans as well as plants of all kinds.
The Ord River was dammed in 1963 creating a huge lake named Argyle. This is one of the few times where damming a river has had positive results. Lake Argyle holds 21 times the volume of the water in Sydney Harbour. In the big wet season of 2011, the water level in the lake was equivalent to 40 times the volume of Sydney Harbour. However, the dam is protected by three spillways that redistribute the water into the Ord River.
The whole project is an example of human ingenuity. It provides valuable irrigation for farming with all kind of produce grown. Also it provides hydroelectric power in the region and a valuable recreation facility.
