Backpacker walking across dried up lake towards Llaima volcano, Conguillio National Park, Chile, South America

Deadvlei, an old dry lake in the Namib desert, Namibia, Africa

Deadvlei, an old dry lake in the Namib desert, Namibia, Africa

Deadvlei, an old dry lake in the Namib desert, Namibia, Africa

Deadvlei, an old dry lake in the Namib desert, Namibia, Africa

Deadvlei, an old dry lake in the Namib desert, Namibia, Africa

Deadvlei, an old dry lake in the Namib desert, Namibia, Africa

Aerial of a dead lake (vlei), in the Namib Desert, Namibia, Africa

Water reservoir dried up, Kebri Beyah, Ethiopia, Africa

A farmer's watering hole, almost dried up, on a farm near Shepperton, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

The Kern Valley Wildlife Refuge in California's Central Valley was created as important resting and feeding grounds for wildfowl migrating along the pacific flyway. After four years of unprecedented drought, the water shortages in California are critical. The reserve has received only 40% of its usual warer, with the result that most of the lake beds are dried up and dessicated, leaving the birds nowhere to go.

The Kern Valley Wildlife Refuge in California's Central Valley was created as important resting and feeding grounds for wildfowl migrating along the pacific flyway. After four years of unprecedented drought, the water shortages in California are critical. The reserve has received only 40% of its usual warer, with the result that most of the lake beds are dried up and dessicated, leaving the birds nowhere to go.

The Kern Valley Wildlife Refuge in California's Central Valley was created as important resting and feeding grounds for wildfowl migrating along the pacific flyway. After four years of unprecedented drought, the water shortages in California are critical. The reserve has received only 40% of its usual warer, with the result that most of the lake beds are dried up and dessicated, leaving the birds few places to go. This is the only area of lake with any water left.

The Kern Valley Wildlife Refuge in California's Central Valley was created as important resting and feeding grounds for wildfowl migrating along the pacific flyway. After four years of unprecedented drought, the water shortages in California are critical. The reserve has received only 40% of its usual warer, with the result that most of the lake beds are dried up and dessicated, leaving the birds nowhere to go.

The Kern Valley Wildlife Refuge in California's Central Valley was created as important resting and feeding grounds for wildfowl migrating along the pacific flyway. After four years of unprecedented drought, the water shortages in California are critical. The reserve has received only 40% of its usual warer, with the result that most of the lake beds are dried up and dessicated, leaving the birds nowhere to go.

A dried up lake at Tehachapi Pass, California, USA. California is in the midst of a four year long drought.

A dried up lake at Tehachapi Pass, California, USA. California is in the midst of a four year long drought.

Baked landscape formerly a large lake, now dried up, Hong Hai Zai near Dongsheng, China, Asia

Baked landscape formerly a large lake, now dried up, Hong Hai Zai near Dongsheng, China, Asia

Drought at Haweswater reservoir revealing the old drowned village of Mardale, Lake District, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Baked landscape formerly a large lake, now dried up, Hong Hai Zai near Dongsheng, China, Asia

Baked landscape formerly a large lake, now dried up, Hong Hai Zai near Dongsheng, China, Asia

Baked landscape formerly a large lake, now dried up, Hong Hai Zai near Dongsheng, China, Asia

Baked landscape formerly a large lake, now dried up, Hong Hai Zai near Dongsheng, China, Asia

Baked landscape formerly a large lake, now dried up, Hong Hai Zai near Dongsheng, China, Asia

A farmers watering hole, almost dried up, on a farm near Shepperton, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

Baked landscape formerly a large lake, now dried up, Hong Hai Zai near Dongsheng, China, Asia

A farmers watering hole, almost dried up, on a farm near Shepperton, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

A farmers watering hole, almost dried up, on a farm near Shepperton, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

The dried up lake bed of the salt lake at Salinas in Murcia Spain, Europe

A farmers watering hole, almost dried up, on a farm near Shepperton, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

A farmers watering hole, almost dried up, on a farm near Shepperton, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

A farmers watering hole, almost dried up, on a farm near Shepperton, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

A farmers watering hole, totally dried up, on a farm near Shepperton, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

A farmers watering hole, almost dried up, on a farm near Shepperton, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

Baked landscape formerly a large lake, now dried up, Hong Hai Zai near Dongsheng, China, Asia

A farmers watering hole, almost dried up, on a farm near Shepperton, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

A farmers watering hole, almost dried up, on a farm near Shepperton, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

A farmers watering hole, almost dried up, on a farm near Echuca, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

A farmers watering hole, almost dried up, on a farm near Shepperton, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

A farmers watering hole, almost dried up, on a farm near Shepperton, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

Hexagonal shapes, Salar de Uyuni salt flat, Altiplano, Ptosi Department, Bolivia, South America

Dried-out bed of a former lake, Racetrack, The Playa, Death Valley National Park, Lone Pine, California, USA

Parched lake, Andalucia, Spain, Europe

Tyre tracks in a dry lake, Djibouti, East Africa, Africa

Man standing at cracked earth at the bottom dried up lake, Poland, Europe

Parched earth and shadows, Sossusvlei, Namibia, Africa

Salt Lake, Baladjie Nature Reserve, Western Australia, Australia

Salt Lake, Baladjie Nature Reserve, Western Australia, Australia