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Australia. This is where the Simpson Desert begins when crossing it from east to west. The border with Northern Territory is not very distant. But what lies ahead, behind this sand dune?
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An almost straight, 300 km-long strand of sand and bushes: a string of 1240 parallel dunes...
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...broken only by this salt lake or rather saltpan. For in this extremely arid landscape, water cannot be anything but a mirage...
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Northern Territory, Simpson Desert. Sun rising on the 824th dune. Unless this is the 856th one?
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The Simpson Desert ends here, on these crests golden with spinifex.
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Purni Bore is an unexpected oasis located at the end of the the "French Line", so called because it was opened in the Sixties by a French oil company. This exploratory well turned up brackish water instead of oil and was quickly sealed and abandoned. Today, hot water gushing from its rusted valves creates a permanent pool which is a pure delight for migratory birds making a stop here and also for bird lovers.
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Australia, Northern Territory. This sandstone rock formation breaks the monotony of the Red Centre plain. It is Mount Conner, glowing under the light of the setting sun.
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Also called "The Olgas", a name possibly inspired by its generous curves, Kata Tjuta means "numerous heads" in the local Aboriginal language. Among these rock formations are many sites considered sacred, where ceremonies are held by Aboriginal women.
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In massive Kata Tjuta, visitors wishing to leave bitumen for a walk are invited to choose from two well-marked trails available to the public within the "Valley of the Winds". It takes about two hours to cover the longest one, which is a seven-kilometer-loop trail. Venturing any further would require a special permit from the Aboriginal Land Council in Alice Springs, 441 km away.
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At Ayers Rock, originally called Uluru, Aboriginal men still hold religious ceremonies. Access to these sacred sites is strictly reserved to the Aboriginal community.
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In the surroundings, the bush grows on red sand, which is the result of erosion. From these long-gone thick layers of sandstone, Uluru is about the last remaining testimony.
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Australia, Northern Territory. The famous gorges of Kings Canyon have been cut deep into this spectacular escarpment.
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The towering plateau is as hot, dry and bare as the gorges below are cool, damp and lush. Water seeping from underground pools have turned a crevice into a narrow oasis several kilometers long.
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Gosse Bluff, originally called Tnorala in the local language, is a sacred site for Aboriginal people. As such, its access is restricted to one viewpoint on the outskirts of this crater, created 140 million years ago by a comet impact. A circle of 8 km in diameter is what remains of the original 25 km in diameter crater.
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Located on the southern side of the West Mac Donnell Ranges, Glen Helen Gorge is nestled in a fault deeply cut into this towering cliff.
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Like many other creeks in Australia, Ormiston Creek is dry. Except of course after a rainfall!
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The mountain range on the left is connected to Mount Sonder, a sacred Aboriginal site on which camping is not allowed. It is opened to hikers as long as they can climb its 1380 meters and back between sunrise and sunset.
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From this point onward, the Namatjira Track is all bitumen. Alice Springs is only 132 km away.
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Australia, Northern Territory. These are the West Mac Donnell Ranges on their northern face, taken from the Tanami Road. This famous track starts north of Alice Springs and crosses the vast Tanami Desert which stretches for over 500 km.
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Australia, Northern Territory. Shortly before reaching the border of Western Australia, the Tanami Road goes through expanses of clay which have been colonised by termites.
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Australia - New South Wales, Corner Country
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Cliquer sur les photos pour les agrandir.
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New South Wales
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Australia, New South Wales. Located in the southern portion of the state, the Snowy River inspired and gave its name to one of the most famous Australian poems, "The Man from Snowy River". Along its banks, an old horseman mounted on his loyal steed rounded up horses. Riding on steep slopes, he went after a reputedly indomitable stallion and managed to catch it.
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Australia, NSW. Past this belt of hills around the small town of Cooma lies a dry plain which stretches to the north, protected from the Pacific winds by the Great Dividing Range.
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Australia, NSW. After entering the wide and deep Bay of Sydney, the once breaking waves of the South Pacific merely lap at the feet of the Sydney Opera house.
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Australia, NSW. Circular Quay, at the feet of the business district towers, is a hub for the city public transport: buses, and trains but also for the numerous ferries which criss-cross the bay.
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Australia, NSW. North of Sydney, Barranjoey Peninsula lies between Palm Beach which opens on the ocean and the flat expanse of Pitt Water which borders on Ku-Rin-Gai National Park to the west.
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Australia, NSW. Well into the 19th century, the Blue Mountains lying west of Sydney remained an impassable obstacle for the settlers!
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Australia, NSW. On the Great Western Highway, the town of Katoomba is famous for these three rocks. Named "The Three Sisters", they overlook a vast wilderness area. Heading south, the nearest track is 80 km away!
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Australia, NSW. 200 km west of Sydney, Bathurst makes a pleasant stop, and is of particular interest for its remarkable architecture, such as this bank building.
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Australia, NSW. Further west, the Mitchell Highway goes through Trangie, waking up to a cloudy morning. The pub is still asleep...
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Australia, NSW. At the beginning of the Barrier Highway, Nyngan marks the frontier with the Outback. For non-Australian first-time visitors, it is hard to grasp the distances, remoteness, aridity and loneliness awaiting them.
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Australia, NSW. "Cobar", what an intriguing Spanish name in the middle of the Australian Outback! It means "copper" for a good reason: Cobar is a mining town.
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Australia, NSW. Wilcannia marks for us the end of bitumen. From now on, the only way north is through the tracks!
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Australia, NSW. In White Cliffs, people are still digging in the chalk for opals. Here, more than ten meters in the underground of PJ's Bed and Breakfast, how would you like to try your luck?
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Australia, NSW. Tibooburra, means "heap of rocks" in the local Aboriginal language. Between these granite boulders still remains some of the gold which attracted the 1881 rush here.
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Corner Country
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Australia, Corner Country. Cameron's Corner, with its huge radio antenna and pub-convenience store is located at the border of three states: New South Wales, South Australia et Queensland. The workers from the closest station of Omicron drive "only" 36 km just to come to this pub for a beer!
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Australia, Corner Country. Innamincka roadhouse provides the usual fluids needed for vehicles as well as for thirsty drivers!
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Australia, Corner Country. Cordillo Downs station is famous for its historical shearing shed built with stones from the surrounding Sturt Stony Desert. In the courtyard, machinery is slowly rusting away. A commemorative plaque honors the contribution of Afghan cameleers to colon settlement, well before the era of motor vehicles.
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Australia, Corner Country. There are moments when even a talkative co-pilot can be a blessing...
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Australia, Corner Country. Nearly dry Lake Moonda brings a bit of variety to the landscape on our way to the Simpson Desert and to the Northern Territory...
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Tasmania
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Australia, Tasmania. Founded in 1804, Launceston is the third oldest city in Australia, after Sydney and Hobart. It has spread from the town centre lined with older buildings, along the river shores and lovely parks into a municipality of 70 000 inhabitants.
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Australia, Tasmania. While Tasmanian timbers have long been renowned for their uniqueness, variety and beauty, the local wood artisans have more recently been building a strong reputation for their fine skills. Some of which are displayed directly on trees such as here in Rooma.
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Australia, Tasmania. St Columba Falls, one of the highest in Tasmania, keeps a permanent shower on the hidden valley of the George River just below. Such patches of temperate rain forest form a thriving environment for ferns which can reach up to 3 meters.
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Australia, Tasmania. From Weldborough Pass, the view carries over the Little Plains and on clear days, extends as far as the Tasman Sea.
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Australia, Tasmania. The north-eastern shores of the Tasman Sea are scattered with large granite boulders such as these. By erosion, they have produced sand so white that it confers on water its distinctive turquoise hue.
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Australia, Tasmania. By colonising most of the granite boulders located above sea levels with their unusually bright colour, these lichens have given its name to the "Bay of Fires", a renowned area north of St Helens.
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Australia, Tasmania. The path leading from this plateau to the high peaks of Cradle Mountain takes you through varied vegetation: tufts of button grass or spiky pandanis, one of the world tallest heath plants.
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Australia, Tasmania. Alpine Lila Lake reflects the outline of Cradle Mountain's summits, one of the most iconic images of Tasmania.
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Australia, Tasmania. From the path following the mountain crest, the eye can take in almost the whole of Lake Burbury which was created by a dam erected east of Queenstown.
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Australia, Tasmania. The pretty historic village of Richmond is surrounded by cultivated plains forming a landscape typical of South-East Tasmania.
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Australia, Tasmania. When low-hanging clouds pass above a bald hill prickled with a few bare tree trunks, you are suddenly transported into a most unlikely Tasmania. But, as the locals often say: "If you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes!"
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Australia, Tasmania. North-east of Hobart, the hills of Tea Tree stretch beyond the Derwent River. They are often graced by the magic of a leisurely sunset over picturesque eucalyptus trees.
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Australia, Tasmania. Just before the Gordon River Road threads its way between Lake Gordon and Lake Pedder, the surrounding hills display forests still untouched by man.
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Australia, Tasmania. Whenever the water level of this man-made lake recedes, this curtain of now dead trees reappears. An already quite sinister tableau under a bright blue sky, this place takes on a "Sleepy Hollow" ambiance under dark, low-hanging clouds which is guaranteed to make you shiver.
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Australia, Tasmania. Gordon Dam and its hydro storage are located at the western end of this man-made lake. Over 60% of Australia's renewable energy is produced in Tasmania by harnessing the force of the river systems such as here, or the winds of the Roaring 40's.
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Australia, Tasmania. Cockle Creek, facing Antarctica, is the southernmost point in Tasmania and therefore, of Australia.
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Australia, Tasmania. North of Sorel, a thick fog or drizzle often drapes this narrow coastal plain on the eastern side of the island where thrive a variety of plant species.
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Australia, Tasmania. South of Mount Young, the forestry industry chose to spare one last handful of these giant eucalyptus called the "White Knights" from the fate of their wood chippers thus preserving at the same time the industry's public image. Their tip reaches 90 meters and beyond!
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Australia, Tasmania. Sea winds bring up here a constant supply of water to hidden valleys of temperate rain forest, feeding a true botanic conservatory from the Ice Age. Streams curve their way through bracken and provide a lush habitat for trout and giant crayfish. And extraordinary little leeches will crawl up your shoes if you stay put for more than five seconds!
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Australia, Tasmania. Even here on the Alpine plateau at the foot of the mighty Legges Tor culminating at 1573 meters, thousand year-old forests have been clear felled into farmland.
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