Karlampi - Waterholes

Waterholes a source of water in Australian deserts, called as such because the water seeps into the sand and is stored below ground, sometime as part of an impermanent river or creek.

Waterholes can still be found across the desert, some in the form as rock waterholes hidden by overgrown foliage.

This painting depicts rock waterholes hidden by the canopy of native foliage, and soakages scarce of water during the dry season, water is absorbed into the desert sand, forming the soakages.

The sand and mud was scooped using a Coolamon or Woomera, often to a depth of several meters until clean water gathered in the base of the hole, native grasses were crumpled up in the hand to be used as a filter when scoping water directly from the waterhole.

Artwork by Luke Jampin Booth.