Austin's Drought in Pictures: Lake Travis at Third Lowest Level

Come Labor Day, this is usually a boater's paradise. This year? Not so much. These photos look more like New Mexico than the Texas Hill Country. Here's what's left of Lake Travis outside of Austin after a hot, dry summer including 68 days with temperatures over 100 degrees. Records indicate this is the third lowest level the lake has ever been at and the lowest in almost 50 years. Simply amazing. I stopped at Windy Point, a lakeside park, and walked a good half mile before I got to the edge of the water. All boat ramps are closed and the landscape is anything but inviting without the usual cold beer and party boat. Click here to see more photos of the surreal terrain, not to mention a bone dry Bull Creek.

Swim at your own risk or walk at your own risk? This sign is a few feet from the water most summers.

The boat ramp ends here but the water is nowhere to be found.

All of this is usually under water. A few stolen cars and buried appliances have been found this year.

This is literally the bottom of the lake. When there's a lake. As this fish found out. Looks downright apocalyptic.

No wake? No problem. That's Bob Wentz Park at Windy Point in the distance.

Yes, this is really Lake Travis. Not Death Valley. File it away to show your kids.

If you've got a boat, better head to Lake Austin or LBJ, but expect them to be crowded. For more Austin drought pictures don't forget to go here. I'll be adding them until we get rain. Oh, and please pray for rain!