[The Guardian] 'A beautiful change': Australia in bloom after drought-breaking rain – a photo essay

'A beautiful change': Australia in bloom after drought-breaking rain – a photo essay

Above-average rainfall across New South Wales has brought hope to rural communities suffering through the most intense drought in living memory

• ‘It’s dire’: farmers battle their worst drought in 100 years – photo essay
  
• ‘Relentless’ farmers continue to battle the big dry

Since late 2016, much of New South Wales has been in the grip of “the big dry” – the most intense drought in living memory. In recent months, the story of the water crisis has been dominated by the Black Summer fires and the global coronavirus pandemic. Yet, bucking of the trend of the world’s horror 2020, heavy rainfall between February and early May has brought a sense of quiet optimism and hope to rural communities.

Many regions have recorded more than 300mm of rain so far this year, eclipsing the entire annual totals of both 2018 and 2019. While pockets of intense drought persist in the far west, northern tablelands and south-east, large parts of the state are now in the early stages of recovery. 

Continue reading...
Source: 'A beautiful change': Australia in bloom after drought-breaking rain – a photo essay

Feeds culled from https://www.theguardian.com/uk/rss