Deep in the desert country of northern South Australia, Lake Eyre is an ephemeral feature of this flat, parched landscape. When seasonal rains are abundant, water fills the lakebed to some degree. During the last 150 years, Lake Eyre has filled completely only three times. When brimming, it is Australia’s largest lake.

This image, taken by Landsat 5 on August 5, 2006, won 5th place in the online “Earth as Art” competition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Landsat satellite program.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/USGS EROS Data Center

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