The power of the sun changes the seasons, transforming our planet. Vast areas of ocean and air currents bring dramatic change throughout the year. In a few special places, these seasonal changes create some of the most spectacular events in the world. Every year in Botswana Africa in the desert lands of the Kalahari, a miraculous transformation takes place in the Okavango Delta. During the month of June, when the land is held tightly in the grasp of the dry African winter season, a flood of life-giving water turns an unforgiving desert, into a watery paradise, known as the Okavango. Great herds travel across the land for months, anticipating an event that will ultimately save their lives.
When and where the Okavango will flood affects the lives of millions of animals, creating one of natures most amazing events. When the flood comes, it turns the dry land into a watery paradise teeming with many diverse kinds of wildlife. For some, the flood is utter paradise like crocodiles, hippos, sitatunga and even herds of elephants, while others have to cope with the unusual conditions such as cheetahs, giraffes, lions and others.
In the heart of Southern Africa lies the Kalahari desert. It covers almost 400,000 square miles, stretching across most of Botswana and parts of South Africa and Namibia. Rainfall is scarce, plants are less productive than in other parts of Africa, nutrients are low and the Kalahari desert is one of the driest places on earth. Yet large herds survive in the Okavango. They have a nomadic existence, trekking across great distances in search for food and water. When the dry season begins, it won’t rain for 8 months, so life already hard, is about to become harder.
The secret of the Okavango flood ...
... middle of paper ...
...he center of a desert, the Okavango flood creates a paradise unequalled in all of Africa.
References
Holding, M. (2009) Nature’s Great Events. London: The University of Chicago Press.
Keen, C. (1997). Greatest Places Physical Geography. Retrieved 4/1/13 from http://www.greatestplaces.org/notes/okavango.htm
Wolskia, P., Savenijeb, H.H.G., Murray-Hudsona, M., & Gumbricht, M. (2006). Modelling of the flooding in the OkavangoDelta, Botswana, using a hybrid reservoir-GIS model. Retrieved 4/3/13 from ftp://168.167.30.140/Mosimanyana/Okavango_Research_Papers/My%20Disc/Del ta%20Models/Wolski_Modelling%20of%20the%20flooding%20in%20the%20O kavango%20Delta.pdf
Oosterbaan, R. J., Kortenhorst, L. F., & Sprey, L. H. (1986). Development of Flood- Recession Cropping in the Molapo’s of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Retrieved 3/29/13 http://www.waterlog.info/pdf/molapos.pdf
A major flood on any river is both a long-term and a short-term event, particularly any river basin where human influence has exerted "control" over the ri...
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Lee, Richard Borshay. “Eating Christmas in the Kalahari.” Natural History. December 1969. pp 11-15. Natural History Magazine, Inc. 1969.
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Web. The Web. The Web. 9 Mar. 2011. The. http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/center/rwanda/lesson.cfm>. Middleton, John.
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