The famous Tree of Life in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya© Yann Arthus-Bertrand
In the parched terrain of Kenya’s Tsavo East National Park, the spiderweb of animal tracks that splay out from an ancient acacia, known as the Tree of Life, are reminiscent of roots. The scene is a reminder of the fragility of life’s connection to water.
Animals come from far and wide to shelter under the shade of this solitary tree. The most marvellous thing about water is the infinite ways that life responds to it – a tree sends down roots, a canopy grows, animals converge, a landscape is marked.
This image was captured by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, author of the bestselling photo book The Earth from Above, published in 1999. It is included in his new book, Freshwater (out 11 June), a look at the world through the lens of its freshwater systems, co-written with biologist Bill François.
François says the tree shot is an “iconic picture from Yann’s work”. “A tree can spread 400 litres of fresh water a day in the surroundings by leaves’ transpiration,” he says. “And in its shade, temperature drops by 5°C. The tree is helping underground water reach the surface of the Earth and nurture life, acting as a living water well.”
