The Murray-Darling river system is one of the most important in Australia, with the Murray-Darling Basin producing about one third of the country’s food supply.

There was a time when some 24 trillion liters of water flowed through the various rivers and estuaries in the system every year. These days, however, by the time the water reaches the mouth the stream is often down to just a trickle.

For decades, the water was used without much thought about the consequences, and climate change is now exacerbating the problem. Experts are warning that Australians could be facing a thousand-year drought.

Report: Esther Blank / Sam Edmonds