Wild Forces

Tropical Far North Queensland is a place like no other, with ancient rainforest growing down to the coast that touches the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Storms that burst upon Australia’s tropical east coast bring cyclonic winds and destruction.

Drought grips the nation regularly with some spells lasting over a decade, and in many areas, arid conditions brought about by low rainfall remain common.

Blazes fuelled by wind, dry bush and weather can consume everything in their path. And nowhere on Earth burns with quite the same ferocity and regularity as Australian bushfires – particularly during the sweltering summer months.

Once a drought breaks, flood often follows. Cyclones born at sea hit land, then turn into rain bearing depressions. The average annual rainfall can fall in only a couple of days, and desert country that has been dry for years springs back to life – and explosion that continues as long as there is water.