Skip to main content

A photo taken half underwater. A person is splashing into the blue water, while above trees and palms surround.

People swim in crystal blue waters of a creek surrounded by bush.
The springs are ringed by a rare palm forest.(Four Corners: Maddy King)
Dirt-covered boots and a child's sandals sit next to towels and a pool noodle by a crystal blue pool.
The springs are a popular swimming destination.(Four Corners: Maddy King)

A man in a wide-brimmed hat and young boy in a lifejacket stand by a tree-lined river. The boy is pointing.
Des Barritt and son Darcy at Roper River.(Four Corners: Maddy King)

Loading...

Loading...

A birds-eye-view of a cotton crop, hundreds of rows of white plants growing on red dirt.
Cotton growing on the Dry River property.(Four Corners: Nick Wiggins)
A drone image of a giant circular crop of cotton. Half of it has been picked.
Dry River is near the regional centre of Katherine.(Four Corners: Ryan Sheridan)

A birds eye view of cotton bales lined up. shadows from the afternoon sun extend from them.
Cotton bales lined up outside a cotton gin near Katherine.(Four Corners: Ryan Sheridan)

Scattered cotton lint in the red dirt at the side of an outback road.
Cotton lint litters the sides of NT highways as the industry expands.(Four Corners: Maddy King)

A close-up of a cotton plant surrounded by dry ground.
Cotton on Ucharonidge Station.(Four Corners: Ryan Sheridan)
A large red-dirt field stretches to the horizon in an aerial picture. Rows where crops were planted stretch to the distance.
Ucharonidge Station.(Four Corners: Ryan Sheridan)

A man in a wide brimmed hat looks directly at the camera in a close-up portrait.
Harold Dalywaters.(Four Corners: Ryan Sheridan)

Long irrigation equipment stretches out into the distance on a red-dirt field.
Irrigation at a farm near Mataranka.(Four Corners: Ryan Sheridan)

An aerial photo of a large green field, with a crop planted in rows. It stretches nearly to the horizon.
A melon farm near Mataranka.(Four Corners: Ryan Sheridan)
A sign that says 'Mataranka' in between a small group of palm trees. In the distance is a water tower. Birds fly above.
Mataranka sits around four-and-a-half hours' drive south of Darwin.(Four Corners: Maddy King)

A man stands in the bush, one arm raised touching a tree branch. He is looking ahead with a serious expression.
Professor Currell has been working with Indigenous rangers to better understand the springs, creeks and rivers around Mataranka.(Four Corners: Maddy King)

Two Indigenous children stand by a pool of water in the bush, their backs to the camera.
Blue Pool, near Mataranka.(Four Corners: Maddy King)
A close up of the surface of water in a bush creek. Reflected in the surface are clouds, the sky, and trees.
Locals and scientists have noticed water levels dropping.(Four Corners: Maddy King)
A gum leaf, losing some of its colour, sits on a fine red gravel in the bush.
It's feared another major fire could destroy these sites.(Four Corners: Maddy King)

A spring with clear blue water surrounded by bush.
Bitter Springs, near Mataranka.(Four Corners: Maddy King)
A dragonfly perched on a small tree branch.
A dragonfly, by the springs.(Four Corners: Maddy King)

A woman stands, looking ahead, behind her is bush and a body of water.
Cecilia Lake.(Four Corners: Maddy King)

A photo of a landcape at sunrise. The sun shines over trees as a river winds through the bush.
A Northern Territory sunrise.(Four Corners: Maddy King)

Posted , updated 
Share