The TANAMI DESERT and FOSSILLISED RIVERS

The Tanami Desert, an ancient landscape, spinifex, termites abound
it is hot, dusty, it appears that not a drop of water could be found
surface indications are also very misleading at first observation
there is plenty of water in fossilised rivers in underground locations

In the days of Gondwana land, not so long ago, it was a muddy swamp
dripping rainforests, flowing rivers, places dinosuars used to tramp
over millions of years, swamp dried up, river sediment became sand
climatic elements also also shaped vegetation, wild life on this land

Termite mounds provide strong clue to existing water underground
in places very small, where water levels are high, the bigger mound
another clue are juicier than normal desert plants of The Tanami
profuse low shrub, tall spinifex, thick, lance-like leaves trust to sky

Vast reservoirs of salt water, underground, from explorations, is known saltier than the sea, needs expensive treatment, to get plants growing
along river valleys, groundwater closer to surface then anywhere else
finding fossillised rocks, Aboriginal paintings, variety of animals tells

Less than half of species survive, due to changing climatic shock
extinctions dramatic, cruel, after white men introduced his stock
disappeared: little-, hare-, nail-tailed wallabie, bandicoot, kangaroo rat
never to come back, after man, in 150 years, has destroyed habitat