The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean, and the highest point is Konigstein. To the north, the desert leads into the Kaokoveld; the dividing line between these two regions is roughly at the latitude of the city of Walvis Bay, and it consists in a narrow strip of land (about 50km wide) that is the driest place in Southern Africa. Geological studies of the Namibs sand dunes and the sedimentary formations beneath them provide some of the clearest evidence of the deserts age. In low-latitude places like at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and the sides of mountains, the excess temperature of approximately 38 C (100.4 F) is recorded. Walvis bay is a city in Namibia famous for fishing and boating. The San, Topnaar Nama, Ovahimba, Ovatjimba Herero, and Ovatue are some people who live in Namib. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. The local tribal groups utilize the coastland to feed their livestock, hunt for food, and gather edible plants. The sand dunes that mold up the sand sea react to erosional processes within the Orange River valley and areas greater to the south. The clarity of the sky also allows for excellent viewing of meteor showers, planets, and other astronomical events. pp (EUR), 1.910 In the eastern half of the desert, some areas have short grass when rain falls. Before the 20th century, some San roamed the Namib, gathering edible plants on the shore, hunting in the interior, and drinking the juice of the tsamma melon for water. [6] Fogs that originate offshore from the collision of the cold Benguela Current and warm air from the Hadley Cell create a fog belt that frequently envelops parts of the desert. The desert geology consists of sand seas near the coast, while gravel plains and scattered mountain outcrops occur further inland. It covers an area of 3,077,700 hectares, with an additional 899,500 hectares designated as a buffer zone. Sossusvlei, in the southern part of the Namib Desert, is a salt and clay 'pan' surrounded by sand dunes. It is about 1,600km (1,000mi) long from north to south and its eastwest width varies from 50 to 160 kilometres (30 to 100 miles). The Lut Desert, known in Persian as the "Plain of Emptiness," out-rivals Death Valley as one of the hottest places on Earth, with world-record temperatures of 177.4 . Stenocara gracilipes is a species of beetle that is native to the Namib Desert in southern Africa. Updates? The rusted orange sandy landscape welcomes you to the world's most ancient desert curved by the ferocious winds, baked by scorching sun, and rusted by the iron of Africa. It contains bedrock, sand dunes, clay, rock outcrops. There's a lot of space The name 'Namib' translates as "vast place", which is apt given that Namibia is one of the least crowded destinations on the planet. The desert is always foggy due to the cold breeze from the ocean along its skeleton coast. To the south, the Namib borders the South African Karoo semi-desert. The leaves of this plant are structured to channel the condensed fog water towards the root system. Top 10 Interesting Facts About Namibia Sand dunes of the Namib Desert along the Atlantic Ocean. In much of the southern half of the desert the platform is surmounted by a vast expanse of sandyellow-gray near the coast and brick red inlandwhich is derived from the Orange River and from other rivers that flow westward from the escarpment but never reach the sea. It stretches more than 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) between the city of Namibe in Angola and the Olifants River in South Africa. The Namib is divided into three successive northsouth-trending strips: the very narrow coastal region along the Atlantic, strongly subject to marine influences; the Outer Namib, occupying the rest of the western half of the desert; and the Inner Namib, constituting the eastern portion. It is thought to have existed for at least 55 million years. All along the coast, but mostly in the northernmost part of it, the interaction between the water-laden air coming from the sea via southerly winds, some of the strongest of any coastal desert, and the dry air of the desert causes immense fogs and strong currents. The steppes in the southern half of the desert are mostly made up of ranches run by Europeans, who raise Karakul sheep with local help and send the pelts of the lambs to Europe for use in fur coats. Only the Cunene (Kunene) and Orange rivers flow permanently on the surface. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. A new, third level of content, designed specially to meet the advanced needs of the sophisticated scholar. The dry climate of Namib reflects the almost complete lack of bodies of water on the surface. These cookies do not contain personal information and are not used for analytical or advertising purposes. Few first-time visitors to Namibia know that elephants survive in the Namib Desert. It is estimated that this desert is dated back at least 55-80 million years . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Several endemic darkling beetles species such as the Namib Desert beetle have bumpy elytrons with a pattern of hydrophilic bumps and hydrophobic troughs. An area where Welwitschias are a common sight is found in the surroundings of the Moon Valley, including the eponymous Welwitschia Plains. By continuing to use this site, you consent to the terms of our cookie policy, which can be found in our. 20 Amazing Desert Plants and Where to Spot Them Around the World The interaction of these factors creates a climatic paradox a desert that derives much of its moisture from fog rather than rain. One of the most well-known endemic plants of the Namib is the bizarre Welwitschia mirabilis; a shrub-like plant, it grows two long strap-shaped leaves continuously throughout its lifetime. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. This cool air moves inland as a southwest sea breeze, creating a temperature inversion about 1,000 feet (300 metres) thick, with fog below and hot, dry air above. This unique climate has led to the evolution of several unique plant and animal species that have adapted to rely on the fog as a primary water source. Namib Desert Facts & Information, Map, Climate, Animals - Travel Guide About our use of cookies, Please select which cookies you would like to keep switched on. They build cone-shaped huts of branches that are plastered with mud and animal dung. Freezing temperatures occur occasionally along the inner edge of the desert. Easily compare offers from top rated tour operators. Namib is a coastal desert located in the southwest of Namibia, connecting to the Atlantic ocean in the west. Safaris, Tanzania Rainfall records also show positive values variously across the Namib, Desert Research Station, and Gobabeb for instance. Nara Plant (Acanthosicyos horridus): This plant is a melon that has perfectly adapted to the desert conditions by not developing leaves, which could lose water. Photograph by Romain Veillon. Land Thar Desert: dune The Thar's desert sands overlie Archean (early Precambrian) gneiss ( metamorphic rocks formed between 4 billion and 2.5 billion years ago), Proterozoic (later Precambrian) sedimentary rocks (formed about 2.5 billion to 541 million years ago), and more-recent alluvium (material deposited by rivers ). We hope you and your family enjoy the NEW Britannica Kids. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Accurate figures are difficult to come by but as many as 600, and as few as 100, are thought to remain. Namib Desert Facts Several small mammals have evolved to be nocturnal to escape the daytime heat. Despite encroaching modernization, many Himba continue to live traditionally, maintaining their cultural practices and knowledge. Tours, Namibia As for lions and elephants, so, too, for rhinos. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet. Save the Rhino Trust claims that Damaraland is home to Africas largest population of free-ranging black rhino. The name of the country is derived from the Namib desert, the oldest desert in the world. Please note: Text within images is not translated, some features may not work properly after translation, and the translation may not accurately convey the intended meaning. Perfectly formed sand dunes press up against a deserted stretch of coast, and inland for as far as the eye can see. Despite its arid conditions, the Namib Desert has a surprising source of water: coastal fog. Many eco-tourism operators in the Namib Desert actively contribute to conservation and research efforts. Nara Melon (Acanthosicyos horridus): The Nara melon is a leafless, spiny fruit plant endemic to the Namib Desert. It is home to some of the highest dunes in the world, reaching up to 325 meters (1,066 ft). Large areas of the Namib are completely soilless, with bedrock at the surface. The platform rises gradually from the coast to about 3,000 feet (900 metres) at the foot of the Great Escarpment. Black-backed jackals lick humidity from stones. The Namib is a coastal desert in southern Africa. It has two huge leaves that sprawl out over the ground. These desert-adapted giants are slimmer than their savannah brethren, and their feet are wider the animal kingdoms version of soft-sand 4WD tyres. In South Africa, the Namib desert covers an area of about 39536861 acres (160,000 km2), and the length of the desert is 52,49,344 ft (1600 km). Only Greenland, the Falkland. 1. There are also opportunities to learn about the local indigenous cultures, such as the Himba and the San people. Namib desert is scenic and very special, some part of the desert is among of the world heritages registered by UNESCO, and that is Sossusvlei. On the other hand, winds coming from the Atlantic Ocean are pressed down by hot air from the east; their humidity thus forms clouds and fog. Top 10 Interesting Facts About Namibia - WorldAtlas See eerie pictures inside a Namibian ghost town - National Geographic Author of. Plants called succulents grow along the coast.
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10 facts about the namib desert
