Africa is rich in natural resources. One of the largest bodies of water on the continent is the Okavango River. It does not dry all year round. The waters of this river give life to many animals and plants, people settle along its coast.
The reservoir is known for a variety of flora and fauna. There are nature reserves in its pool. What Okavango is, what features it has, will be discussed later.
General information
In Africa, the Okavango River gives birth to many species of animals, plants. She is known for her waywardness. Okavango begins 300 km from the Atlantic Ocean. However, her waters were not directed at him. They rush towards the Indian Ocean. But they do not reach him either.
Okavango flows in the southwest of the continent. Kalahari desert does not allow the river to reach the Indian Ocean. Hot sands drain her. In the lands of this vast, cruel desert, all the water of Okavango disappears without a trace.
Before getting lost in these burning sands, the river spreads widely. Around it are gardens that many compare with Eden. Here you can observe the world's second largest delta. It is second only to the Niger River. Her delta is the widest in the world. Among the inland rivers, it has no equal. Among such reservoirs, the Okavango Delta is the first in the world.
General geographic information
When exploring the waters of Africa, the characteristics of the Okavango River should be considered. This is a unique body of water. A river flows inside the mainland, flowing into the desert. It originates on the Bie Plateau (Angola). The river ends with a swampy delta, which is one of the most extensive in the world.
The river is fed mainly by rainwater. It does not flow into the ocean, lake, sea or other body of water. The source of the river is located at an altitude of 1780 m above sea level. The mouth (swamp) of Okavango is located at the level of 700-900 m. Once this river flowed into Lake Makgadikgadi. Now it is dry.
The largest tributary is Quito. It is located on the left side of the reservoir. The river flows in Angola (upper course). Descending south, at a distance of 400 km, it is the natural and political border between this state and Namibia. After that, the river flows in Botswana. In Angola, this pond is called Kubango.
Measurements
In southern Africa, Okavango is ranked 4th in length. Its pool has an area of 721 thousand km². The length of the Okavango River is 1.6 thousand km. It is quite narrow near the source. If you move further downstream, you can note the expansion of the flow. Closer to the delta, it is about 20 km.
The average water discharge in the river is 475 m³ / s. In the rainy season, this figure can reach 1 thousand m³ / s. When drought occurs, water consumption is reduced. During this period, it can be as little as 100 m³ / s.
The delta area is about 15 thousand km². In the rainy season, it is bottled. During this period, the delta occupies about 22 thousand km². For a year, the flow of water is 10 thousand km³. If you translate this indicator into tons, you get the value of solid runoff. It is 2 million tons. To this indicator is also added 2 million tons of salts that are dissolved in the river. They settle in the delta area when the water begins to evaporate significantly.
The water level throughout the river varies. It drops sharply after waterfalls on the border with Botswana.
Climatic conditions
Having considered where the Okavango River is located, it is necessary to study the features of the climate in its basin. The Okavango Delta is a natural oasis. A special microclimate has been established here. It differs significantly from the arid type of the surrounding tropics.
The most comfortable period for a person in this area lasts from March to June. At this time, the temperature during the day is about +30 º. Nights bring cool. At this time, you can see quite a lot of tourists. The hot and humid period lasts from December to March. The nights at this time are warm, and the temperature during the day reaches +40 º. The humidity level is from 50 to 80%.
It gets colder in June-August. Humidity also decreases during this period. At this time, at night the temperature can drop to 0 º. It’s warm enough during the day. In September-November, the river basin is dry and hot. In a year, an average of 450 mm of precipitation falls in this area.
Flow path
The sufficiently large extent of the Okavango River makes the reservoir diverse and dissimilar in different areas. From a narrow source, it rushes down the rapids. Here the reservoir is surrounded by the African savannah. This is the Bie Plateau. On it, the river moves in a southeast direction.
In front of the border with Botswana, a stream passes through a series of Popa Falls. They block the river bed across. The width of the stream here reaches 1.2 km. The course becomes calmer on the Kalahari plain. Here the slope of the area is reduced. Along with this, the current slows down. Its waters are widely spilled. Numerous sleeves, lakes and lagoons appear. Thus, the largest inland continental river delta is formed.
The path of the river ends here. However, it does not feed other bodies of water. Here begins the kingdom of the Kalahari Desert. This is its northern border. The delta forms an oasis in the desert. It is rich in a variety of flora and fauna. This is a special exotic world that tourists come to see.
River hoses
The source of the Okavango River is quite narrow and stormy. A mass of water rushes along the channel, spreading after obstacles from waterfalls along numerous branches. The southern of them during the flood period feeds Lake Ngami. It is a freshwater reservoir.
The northern arm reaches the Zambezi tributary called Quando once every few years. It was at such a time that Okavango finds his way into the Indian Ocean. This period does not last long. Then the northern sleeve dries out on the way to Quando.
Sometimes the sleeve, which is called Botletle, feeds the lake with salt water in Tskau. It is located on the outskirts of the swamps of the Makgadikgadi gutterless hollow. Not more than 5% of the water of the entire delta comes here.
Previously, the Okavango Delta fed Lake McGadikgadi. Today it is dry. In the hollow during dry seasons, salt marshes can be observed which are filled with water during the rainy season in the lowlands. At this time, 2 lakes are formed. At this time, life is in full swing. When the drought comes, the basin again becomes a harsh, salty solid.
Water absorption
The Okavango Delta extends thousands of kilometers within the continent. Here the main water absorption occurs. About 60% of the river feeds the plants that abundantly inhabit this marshland. Papyrus, lilies, water lilies, algae, shrubs and other representatives of the flora grow here. In the north-eastern part there is a reserve Moremi.
Only 36% of the water evaporates from the water surface of the river. This indicator depends on the time of year. About 2% of the water goes into the soil. The same amount of river resources is spent on feeding Lake Ngami. This can be observed in the years when Okavango becomes the most full-flowing. This is not enough for the lake to maintain its position on the northern border of the Kalahari desert. Therefore, it gradually dries up.
Malnutrition Ngami affects the composition of water. The area of the lake is reduced. It turns into a soda-salt type sump. Stripes of shallows appear, the banks are covered with white coating.
Swamps
The mouth of the Okavango River is the largest ecosystem on the planet. This section of the reservoir is called a huge oasis, which has no equal on Earth. A shallow, vast delta forms extensive wetlands here. There is a diverse life here all year round.
Marshes of the river delta are overgrown with reeds, algae. Here you can observe tender water lilies on the surface of the water, and dense shrubs spread along the banks. Various animals come to the watering place. Kilometers pass giraffes, elephants, lions and antelopes, hyenas and leopards to get to the source of life-giving moisture. Here you can find many species of waterfowl. In the swampy waters of the river delta, hippos live. There are also a lot of insects.
People have been living in the Okavango Delta for more than 30 thousand years. However, the population of the basin is small. The abundance of insects that spread malaria and other infections greatly affects this. Here live the peoples of the Bantu group, the Bushmen.
Flora and fauna
The Okavango River has become home to many species of animals, birds, fish and plants. It is in the lower reaches of this reservoir that most of the diversity of the flora and fauna of the basin is represented. Here, life-giving swamps contrast with the arid expanses of the Kalahari.
Reed and papyrus have grown in the upper part of the Okavango Delta. In places where swamps do not dry up all year round, a large number of water lilies can be observed. Dwarf geese have also chosen this place as their home. In the swamps of Okavango, hippos, crocodiles, as well as certain types of antelopes (sitatunga, lychee, bunch) feel good.
Among birds rare species are found. Here you can find a kite, an emerald kingfisher, an African fish owl, a white heron, etc. Zebras, elephants, buffalos, and antelopes are found in the lower part of the river . Predators are represented by lions, hyenas and leopards.
Economic indicators
In Africa, the Okavango River is no less important than the Nile. Its waters flow through the territory of 3 countries at once . Angola, Botswana, and Namibia conflict over possession of the precious water of the river. Along the shores of Okavango people practically do not conduct economic activity. Therefore, the water here is clean.
Angola is trying to strengthen the position of its national economy through the construction of a dam. Namibia uses the resources that the previously built channel supplies. It is also planned to build a pipeline for water supply.
The marshland of the delta is located in Botswana. Every year, funds from ecotourism come to the treasury. It has gained popularity in recent decades. Tourists come to the Moremi Nature Reserve. A safari is organized for them. Therefore, the importance of water resources for this state, contributing to the maintenance of life in the Okavango Delta, is difficult to overestimate. To resolve the conflict that arose because of the water consumption of Okavango resources between the three countries, a special commission was organized.
Interesting Facts
What makes the Okavango Delta unique? Despite the hot climate, a large number of insects, it attracts many tourists. There are several interesting facts about the water body represented. Scientists claim that most of the salt-type islets formed in places of termite mounds.
The surface of the river delta is almost flat. Therefore, water takes about 7 months to overcome the distance from the source to its southern edge. The huge size of the pool, the variety of flora and fauna attract a lot of tourists. However, only 4 thousand tourists a year are allowed to visit the reserve. The cost of such tours is high.
Okavango Problems
The Okavango River is a precious natural resource for the countries through which it flows. Management here is not highly technological. Local tribes are involved in animal husbandry, fishing, and hunting. Botswana mined diamonds on a large scale. However, this does not save the local population from hunger, epidemics, and drought.
Previously, livestock were not grazed in the swampy areas of the Okavango Delta. People conducted this activity at some distance from these places. There were many insects, including the tsetse fly. The spread of diseases, infections has led to the fact that cattle breeding since ancient times was conducted closer to the beginning of the delta, away from it.
With the development of modern technologies, chemical preparations against insects began to be used here. The risk of infection has been eliminated. Shepherds began to drive cattle into the virgin places of the swamps of the river delta. This led to the crowding out of the pasture of antelopes and some other animal species. Their population began to decline. For this reason, nature reserves began to be organized. They contribute to the spread of indigenous species of animals and plants in the Okavango basin. Without this area, a natural disaster threatens.
Having considered the features, interesting facts about the Okavango River, you can get an idea of this reservoir, evaluate its importance for the largest oasis on the planet.