Western Australia has the lowest percentage of rainfall and the least amount of water in rivers, making it the driest inhabited continent in the world. The area is known for its many ephemeral saltlakes that have gradually changed over the years.
This semi-arid region is heavily influenced by global climate change and agricultural land use. Historically, the region was covered by eucalyptus trees and native shrubs, but was cleared to make room for wheat and live stock. After the removal of the deep rooted native plants the groundwater started to rise, bringing increased amounts of dissolved salts and minerals to the surface.