Few rivers in the world remain as untamed and free-flowing as those that run through the ancient landscape of the Lake Eyre Basin.
Recent generous rainfall over Australia's inland Channel Country is breathing new life into ecosystems and it's getting graziers and businesses excited for a big year ahead.
Red dirt country has transformed into lush green expanses, cobbled with patterns of intrinsic river systems.
'Just add water'
Talia Ellis, a pilot and owner of a scenic aviation tour and hotel accommodation in Birdsville, has been flying over the lake for more than 13 years.
"The country is just a sea of green at the moment, which is obviously pretty incredible for such a dry arid climate," Ms Ellis said.
"It can happen quickly, but then we can have years where we experience nothing like it so we're very excited about this year.
"Just add water and it turns."
The rain has also been welcomed by fourth generation grazier Geoff Moreton who needs to feed cattle on his 526,000-hectare property.
"The feed, while not abundant, is growing quite well, but battling against the heat at this time of the year.
"All the cattle are in prime condition now, as in against mid to early December they were in very poor condition, and I was selling off at a rate of knots.
"I always say, 'when droughts come and I start selling, I either run out of cattle or it rains' and luckily it rained this time, so I was able to save a good part of the herd."
Flooding the 'ice cream on the sweets'
This year's wet weather quenches the ground after years of prolonged drought.
While residents say it's been the best in a decade, more rain is needed before the end of the wet season to flood Queensland's three largest rivers that run into Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre.
The Georgina and Diamantina rivers and Cooper Creek are the lifeblood of the Lake Eyre Basin.
Protections wanted
Professor Richard Kingsford, a river ecologist and conservation biologist from the University of New South Wales, has studied the lake for more than three decades.
He said it was not just a pretty picture, but a globally significant ecosystem.
"You need enough fresh water in there [Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre] to overcome the huge amount of salt so that it's not just a saline lake."
But it's a free-flowing natural phenomenon that's facing increasing pressure from encroaching developers.
Last year, the Queensland government quietly granted oil and gas exploration leases in the Channel Country to Origin Energy.
Professor Kingsford said the bioregion was a major factor in keeping down the nation's carbon footprint and interference would upset not only the ancient ecosystems, but the economy as a whole.
"We regard the rivers of the Lake Eyre Basin as free-flowing because they don't have many major structures in their way," Professor Kingsford said.
Business in bloom
Ms Ellis has more pressing matters at hand.
Her organisation has been run off its feet fielding enquiries and bookings from people near and far wanting to catch a glimpse of the region in bloom.
"I think this is going be one of the biggest flying years that Birdsville's seen probably in over 10 years because of the interest in the lake," she said.
