The reason for the formation of the Namib Coastal Desert. African Namib Desert

And its main features.

Where is Namibia located on the world map?

Speaking of geographical location Namibia, it is worth noting that this country is located in the south of the continent and borders on 4 states: Angola and Zambia - in the north, Botswana - in the east, South Africa - in the south. In the west, the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, which contributes to the development beach holiday in this region.

Climate and geographical data

The area of ​​Namibia is 825,615 sq. km, thus making it the 34th largest country in the world (after Venezuela). The local landscape consists mainly of 5 geographical areas: they are the Central Plateau, the Great Escarpment, the Bushveld and the Kalahari Desert. Another interesting fact About Namibia: the country's unique location between 2 deserts provides it with the least amount of rainfall among all countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, there are more than 300 sunny days per year, which makes the Republic one of the sunniest regions in the world.

To understand when is the best time to go to Namibia, you should take a look at weather across the country as a whole. Namibia has a subtropical desert climate characterized by large differences in day and night temperatures, low rainfall, and generally low humidity. The dry season lasts from May to October, with average temperatures of +22...+24°C. The rainy season covers the period from November to April, and it is at this time that the thermometer rises by several degrees and reaches + 30 ... + 32 ° С.

Population and religion in Namibia

Today, about 2.436 million people live in Namibia. Thus, this sunny African republic occupies the penultimate place in the list of countries in terms of population density (Mongolia is in last place). More than 50% of the inhabitants belong to the Ovambo tribe, and about 9% are the Kavangos people. Other large ethnic groups are the Herero and Himba peoples (7%), Damara (6.5%), Nama (5%), Bushmen (4%), etc. It is important to note that in last years education and health services in this country have improved significantly, due to which the literacy rate among the population has increased significantly (84%), while the incidence of AIDS, on the contrary, has decreased.

As for religion, more than 90% of the inhabitants consider themselves Christians. The largest group is the Lutheran Church, the second largest is the Christian denomination - Roman Catholicism. Other religions practiced in the country include Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and the Baha'i faith.

State structure

For many centuries, one of the most beautiful states in Africa was a colony of other countries, and only recently, in 1990, it gained its long-awaited independence. Today, the form of government in Namibia is a unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic. The head of state and at the same time the government is the president, elected by the population for a 5-year term.

Mention should also be made of the most important national symbols Namibia - flag and coat of arms. Both are made in bright colors(blue, green, red, yellow), which serve as a reflection of the courage, determination and pride of the whole people. The central place in the image of the state emblem is occupied by a shield made in the colors of the flag. On both sides, it seems to be supported by 2 oryx, and a screaming eagle sits on top. At the base of the shield is a yellow figure - a symbol of the desert, and below it is the motto of Namibia: "Unity, freedom, justice."

Despite the fact that most of the inhabitants speak local dialects, English is considered the only official state language of Namibia, which is well known only by 3% of the population. At the same time, Oshiwambo, Damara, Afrikaans and Kavango are common languages.

Economy

The Republic of Namibia is the most controversial state in economic terms. The country is considered one of the richest in the entire continent, and at the same time, unemployment and poverty are rampant here. The mining industry (mining of uranium and diamonds) is best developed in this region, in 2nd place is Agriculture, and only 10% of GDP comes from tourism in Namibia.

As for the monetary unit, the state currency of Namibia is the Namibian dollar (NAD), adopted and legalized in 1993.

Cities and resorts in Namibia

Being a kind of visiting card of Africa, the country of Namibia offers tourists a lot of interesting places for relax. The most visited cities and are:

Entertainment and attractions in Namibia

Looking at the photo of Namibia, it becomes clear that this country, unique in every respect, is rich in unusual places and interesting sights. The most famous of them are:

Also noteworthy is the underground lake, which was discovered in the north of Namibia, and the numerous national parks of Namibia and the beaches of Palm Beach (Swakopmund), Terrace Bay (Skeleton Coast), etc.

Hotels and Restaurants in Namibia

The tourist infrastructure in Namibia is currently at an average level. However, every year this branch of the economy is developing better, there are a large number of cozy catering establishments for visiting vacationers. The best accommodation options are:

• 5* Hotel Heinitzburg and 5* Hilton Windhoek (Windhoek);
• 3* Grootberg Lodge (Damaraland);
• Swakopmund Luxury Suites (Swakopmund).

Desert conditions have existed here continuously for 80 million years, that is, the desert was formed back in the time of the dinosaurs.

As a result, there have been several endemic species plants and animals, such as darkling beetles, which are adapted to life in the local extremely hostile climate and are not found anywhere else in the world.

One of the most amazing native plants is tumboa, or Velvichia, which grows in the northern part of the desert. Velvichia grows only two giant leaves, slowly growing all its life, which can last 1000 years or more, but nevertheless, the leaves rarely exceed a length of 3 meters, because they are constantly erased by the wind, which tears the leaves into thin pieces and intertwines them. The leaves are attached to a stem that resembles a huge cone-shaped radish with a diameter of 60 to 120 centimeters, and sticks out of the ground for 30 centimeters. Welwitschia roots go into the ground to a depth of 3 m. Greatness is known for its ability to grow in extremely dry conditions, using dew and fog as the main source of moisture. Welwitschia - endemic to the northern Namib - is depicted on the state emblem of Namibia.

In a little more wet places In the desert, another well-known Namibian plant is found - nara, another local endemic that grows on sand dunes. Its fruits form the food base and source of moisture for many animals that otherwise cannot survive in the desert - from African elephants to antelopes and porcupines.

Another characteristic desert plant is the cokerbom, or quiver tree, a succulent up to 7 m high.

The hollows and dunes of the inner Namib give shelter to some varieties of antelope, such as gemsbok (oryx) and springbok, as well as ostriches and sometimes zebras. Elephants, rhinos, lions, hyenas, jackals are found in the north of the desert, especially in the river valleys that flow from the inner plateau to the Atlantic. The dunes of the outer Namib are home to some spiders, mosquitoes (mostly beetles and ants), and reptiles, especially geckos and snakes, but mammals are almost non-existent.

The waters of the Atlantic Ocean, washing the shores of the Namib, are extremely abundant in life; The coast of the desert attracts numerous seals, seabirds and even penguins, which, despite the African heat, nest on deserted shores and coastal islands.

Climate

Near the coast of the ocean, the air temperature rarely drops below 10 or rises above 16 degrees. In the interior of the desert, summer temperatures reach 31 degrees. In places where the cool sea breeze does not reach - from the calm sides of the dunes or in deep canyons - the temperature can rise above 38 degrees, characteristic of low-latitude deserts.

At night, in the interior of the desert, the temperature sometimes drops to zero. Every year for several days, usually in spring or autumn, a hot dry wind blows from the east. It raises the air temperature above 38 degrees over the entire desert and brings huge clouds of dust that reach the ocean and are visible even from space.

Rare rains fall in the form of short-term, but extremely powerful downpours. The annual level of precipitation on the coast is 13 millimeters and gradually increases with advancement into the interior of the continent, reaching a level of 52 mm near the foot of the inland plateau on the eastern border of the desert. But there are years when it doesn't rain at all. However, due to the nature of the climate, dew is very abundant in the morning, and for some species of plants and animals, it is a much more important source of moisture than precipitation. Winter storms sometimes reach the extreme south of the desert, which rule over South Africa in the region of the Cape of Good Hope; on high southern mountains sometimes it snows.

What to see and try

Climbing the world's tallest red and gray sand dunes at sunrise or sunset is an unforgettable experience, as their peaks offer views of the creations of the wind - rock formations, valleys and plains, and the sun's rays turn the sand of the dunes into a huge variety of pinks, yellows and purples. tones.

Climbing a dune 300 m high is a very difficult task, you may have to catch your breath several times. Standing on top of these dunes, you feel as if you have climbed onto the crest of one of the thousands of sea waves.

In the rainy season, many birds fly into the desert, and in the dry season you can see oryx oryx, jumping gazelles and ostriches. Thanks to the fog that penetrates here from the Atlantic, many species of birds and animals live in this lifeless region.

A night spent in a tent under an endless starry blanket can be one of the most memorable of your entire stay in Africa.

Even during the life of dinosaurs, the Namib Desert was formed, its age is about 80 million years. It is considered the oldest desert in the world. This coastal area, washed by the Atlantic Ocean, covers an area of ​​100 thousand square meters. The desert is located in the southwest and extends over almost the entire territory.

desert climate

The name of the desert is translated as "there is nothing alive." Rigid climatic conditions forced to adapt to them as people and flora and fauna. In the ocean near the desert, the Bengal current flows, which washes the sands hot in the sun. This phenomenon contributes to the harsh climate in the desert. Strong winds create huge sand dunes, the highest of which rises to 383 meters.

In coastal areas, the air temperature does not rise above 19 degrees. Whereas in the depths of the desert, the air heats up to 38 degrees, and the sand is heated in the sun to 60 degrees. At the same time, at night, the temperature drops to 0. Morning fogs envelop Namiba inland from the coast for 40 km.

Flora and fauna

Endemic species of plants and animals grow here, which were able to adapt to such a climate and cannot be found in other places in the world: black beetles; tumboa - a plant with two huge leaves that are periodically worn out by the wind, it lives for more than 1000 years; nara - the fruits of this plant are the main food and source of moisture for desert animals. The tumboa plant is considered the symbol of Namibia, and it is present on the country's coat of arms. An interesting succulent that can be found in Namib is Cockerbom. This tree reaches a height of 7 meters.

Several species of antelopes, ostriches and even zebras live in the dunes. Rhinos, elephants, hyenas and lions live in the river valleys. The desert is home to a huge number of snakes and spiders. Highly big variety The scorpion species has also adapted to the desert climate.

On the coast of the ocean, despite the harsh climate, seals, birds and even penguins live. After rare rains, some areas of the desert are covered with a green carpet of vegetation. This phenomenon does not last long.

Attractions

• Swakopmund is a city surrounded by desert, it is located on the coast of the ocean. A unique climate has formed in it, which is associated with salty sea air and dry desert climate of the desert. The air temperature here does not rise above 25 degrees. Frequent and abundant fogs bring long-awaited moisture to the city. There is little precipitation in the form of rain in this area - no more than 20 mm. The combination of a green oasis in the city and sand dunes outside attracts tourists. The local cuisine is very popular. It is based on dishes from exotic animals and fruits of plants. Modern buildings with beautiful architecture coexist with shantytowns. Clean paved streets in the city and deep sandy embankments just outside the city delight all vacationers.
• Ghost town Kolmanskop - mysterious place in Namibe. This city appeared thanks to the find of a worker in 1908 - it was a small diamond. After this incident, entire families flocked to this area in the hope of finding diamond deposits. So the whole city of Kolmanskop appeared. Good people were lined up here beautiful houses in the hope that the diamond deposits here are endless and life in this city will last more than one century. The buildings were made in the German style with the inherent neatness and style. Even the window shutters here are painted, following the trends of that time. More than 1000 people lived in the city. A school, a hospital, and even a lemonade production workshop were built here. Over time, the deposits were depleted, and the inhabitants of the city gradually left this city. All buildings are covered with sand and are waiting for their owners.
• The Skeleton Coast national park, located in the desert, is one of the most mystical places in the world. A large number of fragments of shipwrecks have gathered here for different periods life. Skulls of ancient animals are scattered across the territory of the park and fragments of sunken ships are immersed in sandy mounds. The park also contains the Roaring Dunes, which have the ability to emit a hum similar to a running airplane engine. Unusual "living sand" in this park resists any human action. Even the powerful wheels of the most modern jeep cannot cope with its power.
• Didley Valley is considered a dead zone in the desert. At the bottom of the valley in the salt layers are petrified trees. Photos of this area resemble a dead zone from films about the end of the world. Being in this place, it becomes creepy, and tourists feel like characters from science fiction films, which are often filmed in this area.

The only place where you can cut trees that have died a thousand years ago is the Namib Desert in Africa. In this article, you will find many interesting photos and facts about this amazing place, one of the most unusual on Earth. There is also Dead Vlei Basin, a plateau with the remains of trees that once grew here. Read, see photos and leave your feedback in the comments to the article.

Namib Desert- coastal desert in southwestern Africa. The Namib area is over 100,000 km2. The desert stretches for 1900 km along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean from the city of Namibe in Angola, through all of Namibia (which takes its name from the desert) to the mouth of the Ulifants River in the Cape Province of South Africa. From the ocean, it goes deep into the continent at a distance of 50 to 160 km to the foot of the intracontinental plateau; in the south, it connects with the southwestern part of the Kalahari.

The name "Namib" in the language of the Nama people means "a place where there is nothing." The Namib Desert is extremely dry (only 10-13 years of precipitation per year) and, with the exception of a few coastal towns, is virtually uninhabited. The Namib is considered the oldest desert in the world: desert or semi-desert conditions have existed here continuously for 80 million years, that is, the desert was formed back in the time of the dinosaurs. As a result, several endemic species of plants and animals have arisen here, which are adapted to life in the local extremely hostile climate and are not found anywhere else in the world.

Important deposits of tungsten and uranium ores and diamonds have been explored in the desert. The waters of the Atlantic Ocean, washing the shores of the Namib Sea, are extremely abundant in life; The coast of the desert attracts numerous seals, sea birds and even penguins, which, despite the African heat, nest on deserted shores and coastal islands.

The South Atlantic blocks the way to the sandy waves of the Namib Desert, which stretches for 2,000 km along the African coast.

An endless sea of ​​sand dunes goes deep into the mainland, to the dried-up heart of the Namib Desert. At first glance, very few animals and plants live in this dry climate, however, one has only to sprinkle a little rain, and the desert suddenly wakes up, a bright and active life begins. seeds and bulbs, for a long time buried in the sand suddenly sprout, dry valleys turn into meadows, and after the plants birds and animals appear. Finches and larks eat grass seeds, and buzzard feasts on numerous insects. In some places, the desert can even feed the oryx, a large desert-dwelling antelope that feeds on young grass. But if in one year there is an explosion of life in the desert, then another year can give only meager vegetation, and there are few animals ready to roam the barren desert in search of food. Recently, geologists have discovered that under the hot sands of Namibia hidden deposits of minerals uranium, copper and even diamonds; perhaps this inhospitable land will soon fall victim to the expansion of man.

The attention of researchers has long been attracted by that part of the Namibian desert, which stretches along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean from the border of Angola to the Orange River. For many kilometers there are clearly visible circles (there are hundreds of them!) With a diameter of 2 to 10 meters. The stony ground within the circle is completely devoid of vegetation, although lush grass rises along its perimeter, contrasting with the rest of the meager desert flora. Scientists have put forward three versions of the origin of this natural phenomenon. First. Gluttonous termites that have chosen the coastline of the Namib Desert have gnawed all the roots of plants inside each circle and destroyed the seeds from which something could grow. True, it would remain unclear why the desert ants especially liked the circles, but this question is for specialists in these insects. However, it didn't have to be asked. Excavations to a depth of up to 2 meters have not found any signs of the existence of termites and their burrows under the surface of the circles. The second hypothesis, which assumed the presence of radioactivity in the soil, as a result of which its "baldness" could occur, also turned out to be untenable. Gretel van Rooyen, professor of botany at the University of Pretoria, who led the research, said soil samples sent to the South African Bureau of Standards were 100% negative for radioactivity. Finally remained latest version: the soil inside the mysterious circles has been poisoned poisonous plants, such as, for example, cactus spurge or multi-flowered chaff. To conduct the experiment, Gretel van Rooyen and her colleagues planted several of these poisonous specimens in the Namib Desert and then took soil from the experimental plots. When, under laboratory conditions, ordinary representatives of the Namibian flora were planted in it, after a certain period of time, scientists were able to make sure that they had taken root perfectly. Thus, the poisonous euphorbia and tares, on which they sinned, turned out to be nothing. What remains - a UFO?

The Namib Desert is so dry that the plants and animals living in it have been forced to develop specific biological mechanisms that meet local conditions. One of the Welwitschia plants is found only in the Namib Desert, mainly in its northern part, where sand dunes are replaced by a gravel-covered plain. Velvichia seems to be drought insensitive; in a few dry years, the tips of its reddish-brown leathery leaves may dry out, but the first drops of rain return them green color and give you the opportunity to grow. It can survive for several years on water reserves absorbed from the ground in a wetter year.

At the start of the day, lizards and beetles emerge from their sandy burrows to survey the area and gather food before temperatures rise, driving them back into the cool sand. A temperature of 66 C was recorded on the surface, too high for the active life of most creatures. For some animals, there is only a short time between the cold of the night, when the temperature is too low for them, and the scorching heat of the day, when most are forced to seek shelter. When nocturnal animals crawl out of their burrows into the cool air, the desert turns into a haven for completely different creatures.

The coast near the Great sandy sea often shrouded in mist caused by the meeting of the cold Bengal air current moving northward from Antarctica and the warmer, wetter winds of the Atlantic dig small holes in the sand.

Every year, for about 60 days, the fog is so dense that it is carried 80 km inland. On a land where it only rains occasionally, these mists are the main source of water for some desert dwellers. Dark beetles drink droplets of fog that condense on their bodies, and other beetles to collect moisture. The bodily juices of these creatures provide the salpuga and chameleon predators with the necessary moisture.

Low, bushy trees and dry grass manage to survive in the harsh conditions of these arid deserts.

The Namib Desert is the main attraction of the country and the oldest desert in the world, its age is estimated by scientists at 60-80 million years.

The landscapes of the Namib Desert are truly unique and inimitable: weathered rocks, canyons of dry rivers, huge dunes shimmering with all shades of red, and gravelly wastelands interspersed with salt plateaus and oases. The hallmark of this area, the "red heart of the Namib Desert" is the zone of the highest sand dunes on the planet Sossusvlei, reaching 300 meters in height. You can admire this cosmic panorama from a bird's eye view from a balloon.

A completely dry area where not a drop of rain falls for years, the desert is nevertheless saturated with life. In winter, thirsty animals gather around tiny pools where you can see and photograph almost all representatives of the Namibian fauna: various desert gazelles, antelopes and ostriches, rhinos, elephants and giraffes.

He must be very hot!

In this most ancient desert there is a huge basin of white clay called dead vley(Dead Vlei) in a local mixture of English ("dead") and African ("vlei") means Dead Hollow. Then a local flood suddenly occurred over the Namib Desert. It rained so long that the sluggishly flowing nearby Chauchab River overflowed and washed out this hollow in the sand. Life immediately arose in the water and slender trunks pounded. But over time, the climate changed, and drought returned to the desert. Multidirectional winds swept around the depression the highest tunes in the world - up to 330 meters in height and blocked the access of the river. But no one could block anything from the sun, and therefore the forest immediately shrank to the state of stone and has been standing in this shrunken form for nine hundred years already. Tree skeletons can't even rot!!!

The Namib Desert is located in southwestern Africa, where geographical names are not particularly original. Judge for yourself: the Namib Desert runs through the state of Namibia, originating from the city of Namibe. But this is not why the desert attracts thousands of researchers from all over the world: the Namib is the oldest, driest and coldest desert on Earth.

The Namib Desert is believed to be over 80 million years old, making it the oldest desert on the planet. The desert stretched along the African coast back when dinosaurs ruled the planet!

The area of ​​the desert is 100 thousand square kilometers, and its length is 1900 kilometers along the Atlantic Ocean. The depth of the desert is at least 50 kilometers, and on average it takes up to 160 kilometers.

In the east, the Namib Desert is bounded by the Kaoko and Homas plateaus, in the southeast it connects and continues with the Kalahari Desert, famous for herds of ungulates and a large number of predators. At the same time, the Kalahari is rich in rivers, flora and fauna.

Unlike the Kalahari, the Namib is not in vain the title of the coldest and driest desert on earth. Translated from the language of the local tribes, "Namib" means "a place where there is nothing", which eloquently and concisely tells us about the local flora and fauna. Few species of plants and animals can survive in the desert climate.

The Namib Desert was formed for two reasons. The first is that winds constantly blow over the desert. east direction, or trade winds that bring no rain to the desert. For this reason, the Namib is the driest desert on earth. The second reason is that the Bengal current, which washes the shores of the desert, carries the cold Antarctic waters to the north. In this case, the cooling of the waters of the ocean and the lower layer of the atmosphere occurs. Dense fogs form, which last up to 27 days a month and can extend up to 50 kilometers deep. For this reason, the Namib is the coldest desert on earth.

The Namib is known for its sand dunes, which reach up to 300 meters. No desert in the world can boast such mountains of sand. The closer to the ocean, the lighter the dune sand. In the depths of the mainland, the sand is darker and can even become fiery red.

Only two rivers flow to the desert: Kunene and Orange. The remaining rivers remain dry for many years. Only once in 5 - 7 years they are filled with water and then abundant floods are observed in the desert. This is typical for rainy seasons, when there is water in the rivers to fill the channel. During a flood, the river literally in a few hours transfers all the sand accumulated in the riverbeds to the ocean shores. There, the wind gets to work and unleashes sandstorms on the shifting dunes. At the same time, sandy rains often fall asleep and people's homes.

The air temperature in the middle of the summer season does not exceed 17 degrees Celsius, while in winter it is no more than 12. Sometimes frosts occur at night. The amount of precipitation is negligible and amounts to only 2 millimeters per year. But even this amount of water can work a miracle: revive the desert and give growth to grass and other plants. Among the grass, one can find dark beetles living only here, which are adapted to conditions of extremely low humidity. Their only source of water is short morning fogs. Burrowing in the sand for the night, the beetles leave the back of the abdomen outside, thus collecting drops of water from the fog. Water flows down the abdomen into the mouth to the beetle and allows it not to die.

In the Namibe, a human foot ended up for two reasons: the greedy pursuit of diamonds and misfortune. The treasures that the desert keeps in itself have taken many lives of treasure hunters. In addition, ships that came too close to the shores of the desert, hidden by thick fogs, became victims of shipwrecks. Because of the ever-moving dunes, not one sea ​​chart did not provide guaranteed protection for sailors. You can still find the wreckage of sunken ships off the coast of the Namib ...

There were cases when ships anchored near the shores of the desert. As a rule, these were forced stops due to breakdowns or a storm that blocked the further path. After repairing or waiting out sea weather, it happened that the way for the ship back to the sea was blocked by a suddenly shifting mountain of sand. Sailors had to abandon ships and go deep into the desert in the hope of being rescued. But few managed to survive in the harsh conditions of the desert.

Today, researchers continue to find mysterious treasures and skeletons of people who died in the fight against nature in the most formidable desert on earth. The Namib Desert.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.