Aborigines gather under a eucalyptus tree in the dried up Todd River, Alice Springs, Australia

Eucalyptus trees in dried-up Finke River, West Maddonnell National Park, Central Australia

Drought and dried up riverbed of the Rio Saja, Saja River, at Barcenillas in Valle de Cabuerniga, Cantabria, Spain

A dried up river bed in the Anti Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa, Africa

A dried up river bed in the Anti Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa, Africa

The dried up river bed of the Kern River in Bakersfield, California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, Bakersfield is now the driest city in the USA. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

A well next to a dried up river bed in the Anti Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa, Africa

A dried up river bed in the Anti Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa, Africa

Child collecting water from a dirty well in a dried up river bed, tanzania. nr shinyanga

Trekkers pass a dried up river bed in the Anti Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa, Africa

A dried up river bed in the Anti Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa, Africa

The dried up river bed of the Kern River in Bakersfield, California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, Bakersfield is now the driest city in the USA.

A well next to a dried up river bed in the Anti Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa, Africa

Woman collecting water from a dirty well in a dried up river bed, tanzania. near shinyanga

Trekkers cross a dried up river bed in the Anti Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa, Africa

Trekkers cross a dried up river bed in the Anti Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa, Africa

A dried up river bed in the Anti Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa, Africa

A dried up river bed in the Anti Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa, Africa

The dried up river bed of the Kern River in Bakersfield, California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, Bakersfield is now the driest city in the USA.

A dried up river bed in the Anti Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa, Africa

TANZANIA Children collecting water from a dried up river bed near Shinyanga. photograph by Sean Sprague

A dried up river bed in the Anti Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa, Africa

A dried up river in Inner Mongolia, China, Asia

A completely dried up river in Shanxi province, China, Asia

A dried up river in Inner Mongolia, China, Asia

A completely dried up river in Shanxi province, China, Asia

A dried up river in Inner Mongolia, China, Asia

A dried up river in Inner Mongolia, China, Asia

Dried up river in Inner Mongolia, Asia

Dried-up Utah Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) in the desert in front of sandstone mountains, eroded landscape along the Paria River, setting of many classic westerns, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA, North America

Vacationers along Medano Creek in Great Sand Dunes National Park, Mosca, Colorado, USA

Dry river bed, detail

Erosion of a river bed, volcanic region of Mount Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, near Waiouru, North Island, New Zealand

Dried-up Utah Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) in the desert in front of sandstone mountains, eroded landscape along the Paria River, setting of many classic westerns, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA, North America

Dried and cracked mud along the Rio Grande, Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA

Dried salmon head on gravel bank with fall foliage at the back, Big Salmon River, Yukon Territory, Canada

Structures in a dry river bed, Monument Valley, Arizona, USA

A dry river floor

Dry Isar riverbed, Sylvenstein, Upper Bavaria, Germany, Europe

ERITREA Environment Drought Dried up river bed.