Discover Stunning Freshwater Images from the Creator of Earth from Above

In the stark beauty of Kenya’s Tsavo East National Park, the intricate patterns of animal footprints resemble the roots of the renowned Tree of Life. This mesmerizing scene underscores our delicate relationship with life and water.

From far and wide, animals gather beneath the tree’s protective shade. Water is life, influencing ecosystems as trees establish roots, canopies expand, and landscapes evolve.

This stunning photograph is captured by Yann Arthus Bertrand, famous for the bestselling book Earth Seen from Above, published in 1999. It is featured in his latest work, Freshwater (released on June 11th), co-authored with biologist Bill Francois, who examines the world’s freshwater ecosystems.

Francois describes this iconic image of the tree: “Trees can release up to 400 liters of fresh water daily through leaf transpiration.” He adds, “Under its canopy, temperatures can drop by 5 degrees Celsius, with the tree acting as a vital oasis that helps groundwater surface and nurtures life.”

The book Freshwater explores the scarcity of our planet’s most precious resource. While it may appear abundant, the authors reveal, especially in their striking imagery, that fresh water is often just a thin veil over an otherwise dry, lifeless world.

“Imagine if all the water on Earth were condensed into a single droplet,” they propose. This droplet would have a diameter of 1,385 kilometers, approximately 1 million cubic kilometers of water—a vast yet minuscule size in comparison to global distances.

At another scale, the authors illustrate that Earth’s freshwater exists in droplets so small, they could fit within a wine glass if the planet were the size of a hot air balloon. These tiny droplets sustain tropical forests, civilizations, and diverse life forms like earthworms to giant sturgeons, comprising less than 0.1% of Earth’s total water supply.

Below is another remarkable image from Freshwater: a white pelican in the Senegal River Delta.

“This park is a crucial mangrove ecosystem, vital for various species at the boundary between saltwater and freshwater, providing habitat for juvenile saltwater fish. Two-thirds of the world’s marine fisheries depend on estuaries,” states Francois.

“Like many ecosystems, this area faces significant threats due to human activities,” he warns. “For instance, damming the river and converting nearby wetlands to agriculture has led to increased aquatic vegetation, disrupted ecosystems and introduced pests.”

Another breathtaking image captures a river from Auyan Tepui in Venezuela, while below is a stunning waterfall on Blasfellbreen Glacier in Norway.

The allure of freshwater is rooted in its intricate molecular interactions. It freely dissolves salt and gases, supports wildlife, and transitions between solid, liquid, and gas. These essential aspects—rivers, sprawling lakes, glaciers, polar ice, storm clouds, and mist—have inspired artists and poets for centuries.

Yet, like many beautiful treasures, fresh water is transient, capable of reshaping landscapes over varying timescales. “A water droplet lingers in the atmosphere for roughly 10 days, in stark contrast to thousands of years in the ocean,” the authors explain. “Thus, a droplet reaching the sky is an event that occurs, on average, every 2,737 years.”