- Area: 81,000 sq. M. km
The most ancient desert on the planet is Namib (Namibe or Namib). It is also the most dry and uninhabited. Its age exceeds 80 million years, and in ancient times it was inhabited by dinosaurs.
general information
If you do not know exactly where and on which continent the Namib desert lies, it is enough to look at the map of Africa. Its vast territory occupies the coastal part in the south-west of the continent, in the territory of modern Namibia . It has an area of 81 thousand square meters. km.
The name came from the indigenous people of the Nama tribe who inhabited the area, and is translated as "a zone where there is nothing." The Namib desert borders on the Kalahari and is located on the territory of the entire Namibia state, and part of it is in Angola and South Africa . It is conditionally divided into 3 geographical parts:
- coastal - here you can feel the influence of the ocean;
- external - occupies the western zone of the desert;
- internal - is in the eastern part.
All of them are divided among themselves by wide transitional areas. The main reason for the formation of the Namib Desert is the presence in the Atlantic Ocean of the Benguela Current, powerful and cold. It contributed to the movement of grains of sand, and the winds from the coast created barkhans. The constant heat did not allow the formation of lush vegetation. Soils here are saline and cemented with lime, so on the surface you can see a solid crust.
Climate in the Namib Desert
Each part of the desert has its own unique weather. Those who want to know why there are no precipitation in the Namib desert, scientists give the answer: they happen, but their average annual number is only 10-15 mm. Occasionally here there are short-term, but strong downpours. In the coastal zone, the rain is replaced by high humidity.
The ocean current cools the air, resulting in the formation of dew and fog, which the wind carries deep into the continent. A temperature inversion is created here. Such weather makes navigation on the shores of the ocean difficult and contributes to frequent shipwrecks. In the desert, Namib even has Skeleton Coast - one of Namibia 's national parks , where you can see the remains of ships.
The air temperature in the daytime rarely falls below + 40 ° C, and at night the mercury column does not exceed 0 ° C. In the spring and autumn in the desert, the wind blows the berg (mountain and hot). He brings clouds of dust that can be seen even from outer space.
Nature of the Namib Desert
The territory of the site is divided into 6 natural zones, each of which has its own particular vegetation. Flora of the desert is expressed by succulents, shrubs and acacias. Only they can withstand a long drought. After the rains there appears a dense grassy cover consisting of endemics.
The most unique representatives of the flora are:
- velvichiya - is depicted on the arms of the country;
- nara - its fruits feed on animals;
- kokerbom - quiver tree.
Throughout the Namib Desert, you can make original photos with animals, because there are ostriches, zebras, springbok, gemsbok and rodents. In the northern part and in river valleys there are rhinoceroses, jackals, hyenas and elephants. In the dunes live spiders, mosquitoes and various beetles, as well as snakes and geckos, which have adapted to live on the hot sand to + 75 ° C.
What else is interesting about the desert?
Namib attracts tourists with such sights :
- the coastal zone is unique for rookeries of seals, a variety of fish and birds (cormorants, penguins, pelicans);
- Namib-Naukluft National Park - occupies most of the desert;
- the city of Swakopmund , surrounded by sands;
- a mysterious settlement of Kolmanskop , rich in deposits of diamonds;
- Dead Valley , where you can see fossilized trees.
How to get there?
You can get to the Namib desert from any city in Namibia. Through it pass the railway lines and asphalted roads. In the coastal zone, there are routes that connect such settlements as Walvis Bay , Swakopmund, Luderitz and Oranjemund.