A Queensland woman visited the Champagne Pools for a second time. But instead of vibrant, bubbling waters, she was instead greeted by an expanse sand – and the pools were nearly empty
One of Australia’s most popular attractions appeared to have changed beyond recognition – sparking fears over the future of the nation’s stunning natural landscapes.
Drawing visitors from around the world, the island of K’gari boasts unspoiled wilderness and a rich array of wildlife. Each year, approximately half a million people are drawn to the area to experience the environment and one of it’s most famous destinations is the Champagne Pools.
The stunning pools of water are celebrated for their unique phenomenon. During high tide, the ocean water cascades over the rocky outcrops, creating a foamy, effervescent display reminiscent of bubbling champagne. It’s a sight that has long been a highlight for visitors to the island. But a recent ‘transformation’ at this famous spot has left visitors worried about the effects of climate change.
Earlier this week, a Queensland woman visited the Champagne Pools for a second time. But instead of the vibrant, bubbling waters she remembered from her last visit, she was instead greeted by a vast expanse of sand – and the pools were nearly empty. Elisha Fleming took to a Frasier Island social media to express her astonishment saying she had “never seen it like this before” and shared images of the baron pools.
Marine expert and oceanographer Ruth Reef revealed some little-known insight about the spot and it seems climate change is not at play. But rather, she said there are multiple factors at play that may explain why the pools were empty on that particular day.
Speaking to Yahoo News, Ms Reef explained: “Champagne Pools are gorgeous, and have long been a place where an outcrop of igneous rock (mainly rhyolite) is shaped in a way that protects the beach from the open ocean exposure on the eastern side of the island in the shape of a few shallow pools.
“Whilst these are more sheltered parts of the beach, they are highly connected to the ocean experiencing the influence of tides, waves and sediment exchange — and are thus not as safe to swim in as people might think. Sediment is also exchanged with the dune system landward of the pools. So the pools sit in a very dynamic and beautiful location.”
Ms Reef added it’s hard to hypothesise “without knowing the exact conditions at the time” but there are a couple of reasonable explanations. “For example, the tidal stage. Tides here can usually mean a difference of two metres of water depth in the pools, but there [are] very high tides occurring at the moment,” she said.
“Recent stormy weather along the east coast can easily introduce sediments into the pools through rainfall and wave action. Queensland has been experiencing stormy weather. So all those issues combined can, one, lead to lower water levels, and, two, lead to increased sediment input. These are all reversible though — I don’t anticipate this to be an ongoing issue, just an example of the variability in these beautiful locations.”