The water world surrounded by the desert, and the Okavango River crossing it. Ocavanango flowing into the desert What does Popa Falls mean

This amazing river flows in an amazing place and ends in an amazing way. Surprises with its numerous and variety and animal world of her shores.

No less surprising is the unique language of people living in her pool.

Okvango is the only permanent river of an extensive and unusual area, called Calahari, and located between the rivers of Zambezi, Limpopo and Orange in South Africa.

On the maps it is usually customary to write the "Kalahari Desert". But this is not a desert at all.

In the summer there are plentiful rains here, and on the annual amount of precipitation (from a thousand millimeters in the north to two hundred and fifty in the south), these places cannot be compared, for example, with sugar or deserts of Arabia.

Scientists have not been able to agree on what Calahari is. Some call her "deserted savanna", others use the term "green semi-desert", others believe that in relation to such places it is more appropriate to talk about steppe park landscapes.

Anyway, there is water in Calahari. There are temporary (on the rainy season) of the river, there are lakes (most of which, however, dries in winter). There are trees, and shrubs, and grass, while in large quantities.

Umbrella acacia and tree-like neopheses grow in Kalahari for forty-fifty meters from each other, as it should be savanna trees.

Bushes and grass (sometimes up to meter height) are also not covered by a solid carpet of land; Sand islands are always visible between green spots of vegetation. But this vegetation is enough for thousands of antelope, buffaloes and zebras for food, especially since Ocavango is this South African Nile, provides them all year round.

Starting in Savannas South Angola, this river through the gorges and thresholds, along the steep slopes, waterfalls rapidly rushing south. And only in Calahari calm down, as if forgetting about his brown moral.

In the endless sea of \u200b\u200bsandy plains, it spreads through the labyrinths of sleeves, Lagun, lakes, forming a completely unusual river delta in the imposition ... to nowhere.

It is called "island of water in the sea of \u200b\u200bsand."

Sixteen square kilometers of papyrus thickets, shrubs and algae year round give a set of birds and beasts.

And in a flood, in May-June, the semi-precious sleeves of the delta turn into stormy foaming flows, one of which comes to the "Blue Heart of Calahari" - a beautiful and obsolete fresh lake NGAM, opened for the science of Great Livingston.

Okvango's water remains wandering another three hundred kilometers and disappear in a huge lake-swamp Makarikari.

Lake is a gigantic soda soda romor.

In the dry season from the aircraft, it resembles the lunar landscape: to the very horizon, a solid white covered with rare dark water stains is spread.

Clear bell strips are clearly distinguished, surrounded by a stationary sultry haze.

The species of African fauna are presented in Delta Okvango. Hippo coexist with crocodiles on green islets.

Thrown the herds of elegant antelope. Carefully looking around, glowing a grazing water goat - having honed the danger, he plunges into the water to the most nostrils.

Elegant giraffes and ghoul buffaloes and GNU come to aquauca.

Leisurely, with a sense of self-esteem, waters to water elephants and rhinos, delusitously sneeze in thickets. Breakdown and serious warts boars.

Nevdulex graze a friendly company Zebra, Antelope-Cannes and Ostrich - together they are easier to discover predators, because birds vision complements the sensitive rumor of striped horses and a subtle smell of antelope.

And, of course, there are leopards, cheetahs and royal lions around this abundance of the game, and the grooved griffins are slowly circling in the air, looking out for prey.

The abundance of fauna in Delta Okvango is amazing. In addition to the already named animals, there are about four hundred species of birds and up to seventy species of fish.

And the vegetation world of the delta has more than a thousand trees and shrubs.

And the traveler, going to this unique oasis on the local cake - wet, can see and capture on the film of water antelope and hyenan dogs, almost disappeared in other areas of Africa, admire herds of elephants, zebras and blue GNU or catch A fishing rod of a hefty bream, or even a fish-tiger.

And from the shores and islands on a swimming cake will be lit a flock of pelicans and storks, flamingos and marabou ...

When the heat is replaced by cool and over Calahari, the impenetrable tropical night is thickened, the inhabitants of these places - the shepherd-TSSVAN and Bushmen hunters find the road along the stars, so bright in these latitudes.

The main landmark of them is the South Capricorn's Southernotropic Constellation. They are asked to him, they also thank for a successful hunt.

Bushmen are mysterious people. In their appearance, they do not like most residents of South Africa. Yellow leather and squared eyes bring them closer, rather, with the peoples of the Mongoloid race. How and why they were in the depths of the Black Continent, science does not yet know.

The language of Bushmen put (and puts!) In a dead end, even linguistics specialists. Half of his sounds of Europe can not only say, but even write down. In compiizers of dictionaries, there were no badges to designate such sounds, and they recorded simply: "Casting sound", "Smoking sound", "kiss sound" and so on.

Bushmen are nomadic hunters, and Calahari, which in the XIX century considered one of the richest animals of Africa regions, gave them the opportunity to feed their families with a delicious game, as well as edible roots and juicy fruits of wild melons.

But the appearance of white people with firearms quickly led to a reduction in the livestock of wild animals, and moreover, more and more waterproofs began to capture the tribes of TSSvan's cattle breeders who pushed Bushmen to the most arid areas.

However, this intelligent people of inborn hunters and trackers managed to adapt to new conditions and nomads now south, closer to the river basin of the Orange River and drying in winter the tributaries.

The ability to find in dry rods where water can be under the sand, cuts them out, giving the opportunity to hold out until the rainy season, and the ability to eat everything that moves along the grass or sand, from larvae to locust, allows you to survive in case of unsuccessful hunting.

The amazing tribe it causes an invalid sympathy with his smartness, musicality, humor and kindness, which, by the way, demonstrated the recently released talented film "Probably, the gods went crazy ...".

Okvango crosses from the North-West to the southeast almost half of the huge South African country Botswana, entirely located in Calahari.

Until recently, this poor cattle breeding state did not shine success in the economy.

But since the 1960s of the 20th century, when in the depths of Botswana, several large locations of diamonds were opened at once, the situation changed.

Now the country can afford to drill well for water in dry parking pavements of Calahari, build civilized villages for bushmen and TSSvan and, finally, to engage in the guard of the animal world.

National parks and reserves now occupy a little bit of fifth of Botswana. They are in the north, in the pool of Zambezi, and in the southwest - on the tributaries of Orange.

But the three largest reserves cover the districts of Central Calahari, Okavango Delta and Makarikari Lake.

Africa is rich in natural resources. One of the largest reservoirs on the continent is the Okavango River. She does not dry up all year round. The water of this river gives the lives of many animals and plants, people along its coast will be treated.

The reservoir is known for the variety of flora and fauna. There are reserves in his pool. What is Okavanngo, which features possesses, will be considered further.

General

In Africa, the Okavango River gives life to many species of animals, plants. She is known to her own way. Ocavango begins 300 km from the Atlantic Ocean. However, its water is directed. They rush towards the Indian Ocean. But before him they do not reach.

Okvango flows in the south-west of the continent. Kalahari desert does not allow the River to reach the Indian Ocean. Hot sands drain her. In the lands of this huge, the brutal desert disappears all the water Okavango without a balance.

Before you get lost in these burning sands, the river is widely spread. The gardens spread around it, which many are compared with Eden. Here you can observe the second largest Delta. It is inferior only by the Niger River. She delatta has the widest thing in the world. There are no equal among intraceretal. Among such reservoirs, Delta Okavango ranks first in the world.

General geographical information

Studying the water of Africa, should consider Ocavango. This is a unique reservoir. The river flows inside the mainland, falling into the desert. She originates on the Bie plateore (Angola). The river is ends with a swampy delta, which is one of the most extensive in the world.

The river feeds to a greater degree of rainwater. It does not flow into the ocean, lake, sea or other reservoirs. The source of the river is located above sea level at an altitude of 1780 m. The mouth (swamp) Okvango is located at 700-900 m. Once this river fell into Lake McGadicagadi. Now it dry.

The largest influx is Quito. It is located on the left side of the reservoir. The river flows in Angola (upper flow). Sunchanting 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 reservoir is called Kubago.

Measurements

In the southern part of Africa Ocavango ranks IV in length. Its pool has an area of \u200b\u200b721 thousand km². The Length of the Okavango River is 1.6 thousand km. It is quite narrow near the source. If you move downstream, you can mark the stream expansion. Closer to the delta it is about 20 km.

Water consumption on average on the river is 475 m³ / s. In the rainy season, this indicator can reach 1 thousand m³ / s. When drought comes, water consumption is reduced. During this period, it can be only 100 m³ / s.

Delta Square is about 15 thousand km². In the rainy season it blooms. During this period, Delta takes about 22 thousand km². For the year the flow of water is 10 thousand km³. If you translate this indicator in tons, it turns out the value of solid. It is 2 million tons. To this indicator, 2 million tons of salts are also added, which are dissolved in the river. They settle in the Delta area when water begins to evaporate significantly.

The level of water throughout the river is not the same. It sharply decreases after the waterfalls on the border with Botswana.

Climatic conditions

Having considered where the Okavango River is located, the features of its pool should be studied. Delta Okavango is a natural oasis. A special microclimate has been established here. It is significantly different from the arid type of surrounding tropics.

The most comfortable period for a person in this area lasts from March to June. At this time, the temperature day is about +30 ºС. Nights bring coolness. At this time, many tourists can be observed here. Hot and wet period lasts from December to March. Nights at this time are warm, and the temperature during the day reaches +40 ºС. The level of humidity ranges from 50 to 80%.

It becomes colder in June-August. Humidity during this period also decreases. At this time, the temperature may fall to 0 ºС at night. During the day is warm enough. In September-November, the river basin is dry and hot. During the year in this area there is an average of 450 mm precipitation.

Path flow

A large length of the Okavango river makes a variety of diverse, unlike in different sections. From a narrow source, it rushes down through the thumbnail. Here, the reservoir surrounds the Bie plateau. According to him, the river is moving in the south-east direction.

Before the border with the Botswana stream passes a number of waterfalls ass. They brave the river bed across. The flow width here reaches 1.2 km. A calmer current becomes on the plain Kalahari. Here the bias of the area is reduced. Together with this flow slows down. Its waters are wide. Numerous sleeves, lakes and lagoon appear. This is how large on the planet Delta of the intramiceric river is formed.

The path of the river is completed here. At the same time, it does not feed other reservoirs. Here the kingdom of the desert Kalahari begins. This is her northern border. Delta forms an oasis in the desert. He is rich in a variety of Flora and Fauna representatives. This is a special exotic world for which tourists come to watch.

Sleeves river

The source of the Okavango River is quite narrow and stormy. The mass of water rushes along the channel, breaking after obstacles from waterfalls on numerous sleeves. Southern of them in the field of flood nagami lake. This is fresh reservoir.

The northern sleeve once a few years reaches the influx of Zambezi, which is called Kwando. It is at that time Ocavango finds the way to the Indian Ocean. This period lasts long. Then the northern sleeve dries on the way to Kwando.

Sometimes sleeve, which is called Botletn, nourishes the lake with salt water TsKau. It is located on the outskirts of McGadicagadi's shaft wet. It turns out as much as possible by no more than 5% of the water of the entire delta.

Previously, Delta Ocavangano fifth Lake McGadikgadi. Today it dryed. In the hollow in the arid seasons you can observe the salt marshes, which in the rainy season in lowlands are filled with water. At this time, 2 lakes are formed. At this time, life boils here. When drought, the brand becomes harsh, salt solid.

Water absorption

The Okavango River Delta extends thousands of kilometers inside the continent. Here is the main water absorption. About 60% of the river nourishes plants that inhabitantly inhabit this swampy terrain. Papyrus, lilies, pita, algae, shrubs and other representatives of flora grows here. In the northeastern part there is a Mormi Reserve.

With a water surface of the river, only 36% of water evaporates. This indicator depends on the time of year. About 2% of water leaves the soil. The same amount of river resources goes to the NGAM Lake Nutrition. This can be observed in the years when Ocavango becomes the most fulfilled. This is not enough for the lake to preserve its position on the northern border of Kalahari desert. Therefore, it gradually dries.

Insufficient NGAM nutrition is reflected on the composition of water. The area of \u200b\u200bthe lake is reduced. It turns into a soda-salt-type sodium. Bands appear, the shores are covered with a white bloom.

Swamp

The mouth of the Okavango River is the largest ecosystem on the planet. This area of \u200b\u200bthe reservoir is called a huge oasis equal to which is not on Earth. Small, extensive delta forms extensive marshy land here. Here, all year round there is a variety of life.

Swamps Delta River Cane, Algae. Here you can observe gentle pitcher on the surface of the water, and dense shrubs spread out on the shores. Many animals come here on water. Kilometers pass giraffes, elephants, lions and antelopes, hyenas and leopards to get to the source of the life of the moisture. Here you can meet many types of waterfowl. In the swampy waters of the river delta, hippos are inhabited. Also here are a lot of insects.

In Delta Okvango, people have already lived for more than 30 thousand years. However, the population of the pool is not a few. The abundance of insects that spread with malaria and other infections, it strongly affects it. The peoples of the group Bantu, Buschmen live here.

Flora and fauna

The Okavango River has become a house for a variety of animal species, birds, fish and plants. It is in the lower reaches of this reservoir that most of the entire variety of flora and the fauna of the pool are represented. Here, the giving life of the swamps contrast with the arid expanses of Calahari.

In the upper part of the Okvango delta, the reed and papyrus broke. In places where the swamps do not dry up all year round, you can observe a large number of water lishes. This place was also chosen by their home dwarf geese. In Okvango swamps, hippos, crocodiles, as well as certain types of antelope (sitatung, lychee, bunch) feel good.

Among the birds there are rare species. Here you can meet Korshun, an emerald wintering, the African fish owl, a white heron, etc. In the bottom, zebras, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes are found. Predators here are represented by lions, hyenas and leopards.

Economic indicators

In Africa, the Okavango river has no less value than the Nile. Its water flows around the territory at once 3 Botswana and Namibia conflict for possession of the precious water of the river. On the banks of Okvango, people practically do not behave economic activities. Therefore, the water is clean here.

Angola is trying to strengthen the position of its national economy with the help of the construction of the dam. Namibia uses the resources that the channel built earlier. It also plans to build a pipeline for water supply.

The Delta's swampy terrain is located on the territory of Botswana. Every year, funds from ecotourism come to the treasury. It is becoming popular in recent decades. Tourists come to the Mormi Reserve. Safari is organized for them. Therefore, the importance of water resources for this state that contribute to the maintenance of life in the Okavango delta is difficult to overestimate. To solve the conflict that arose due to the water consumption of Okavango resources between these three countries, a special commission was organized.

What is the uniqueness of the Okavango River Delta? Despite the hot climate, a large number of insects, she manits a lot of tourists. There are several interesting facts about the reservoir represented. Scientists argue that the majority of salt-type islands were formed in the grounds of meters.

The surface of the river delta is almost flat. Therefore, water is required about 7 months to overcome the distance from the source to the southern edge. The huge sizes of the reservoir basin, the variety of flora and fauna entail a lot of tourists here. However, it is allowed to visit the reserve only 4 thousand tourists per year. The cost of such tours is high.

Obavanango problems

Okavango River is a precious natural resource for countries through which it flows. The management here is not distinguished by high technological. Local tribes are engaged in animal husbandry, fishing, hunting. Botswana mined on a large diamond scale. However, this does not save the local population from hunger, epidemics, droughts.

Previously, cattle did not graze in the swamp areas of Delta Okavango. People led this activity in some distance from these places. There were many insects, including Fly Tseet. The spread of diseases, infections led to the fact that cattle breeding from ancient times was closer to the beginning of the delta, aside from her.

With the development of modern technologies, chemical preparations against insects began to apply here. The danger of infection was eliminated. Shepherds began to drive out cattle in the virgins of the river delta swamp. This led to ousties from the original pastures of antelope and some other species of animals. Their population began to shrink. It was for this reason that the reserves began to organize. They contribute to the spread of indigenous animals and plants in the Okavanngo basin. Without this area faces a natural catastrophe.

Having considered the features, interesting facts about the Okavango River, it is possible to make an idea of \u200b\u200bthis reservoir, it is important to assess its importance for the largest oasis on the planet.

During the trip, getting used to drying seasonal rivers in Namibia, a little strange to meet long-free rivers here, and even such that they flow themselves continuously all year round. How many rivers flowing on the ground Caprivi? Oh, this is an interesting and confusing question. It happens that the Zambezi region is called the place of four rivers, and sometimes there are all five or only three. I remember how this fact was confused by me at first. Quiet, friends, now we'll figure it out!

Holding a textbook geography

The area of \u200b\u200bthe former band of Caprivi crosses the trio of mighty rivers:

River Company on the map

So look the main water arteries on the map. It can be seen that on the orange section of the Earth, representing our interest now, there is only a minor part of their large path from the sources to the mouth.

Pay special attention to the Okavango River Delta on the map and how Kwando envelopes the sticking finger of Namibia.

Surprises of the Water World

No, friends, I did not forget about two more big rivers - Lignanti and Chobe. The fact is that they are, as it were, and no matter how it.

See on the map, how cool the River Kvando is bent, changing its direction almost 90 degrees? There is an extensive area of \u200b\u200bKvando swamp. Since the release of them, the river will continue to exist between the cane shores already called Lignanti.

And it will flow under this name before the seasonal lake Liambezi in the northeast, after which it will already be designated as the Chobe River, she will remain until the very moment of sign in Zambezi not far from Casangul ...

You see how much the area of \u200b\u200bthe capari is saturated with water. The abundance of moisture favorably contributes to the emergence of mosquitoes, and they are carriers of malaria because of this, when visiting these seats, a special precaution should be observed.

And now - surprise! You will be surprised, but despite the fact that this area of \u200b\u200bthe country is surrounded by multi-water and permanent rivers, he seriously suffers from a lack of pure drinking water. Most people in this part of the country are forced to drink water produced from wells, and it is often sleeping and is not enough for use. Also not on this territory and water producers, here is a beast and picks up to rivers.

Amazing river Okavanngo

What it is especially noteworthy, so this is the exception to the rules. Everyone knows that rivers, as a rule, fall into the sea. Okvango does not fall anywhere, but spreads to 20 thousand square kilometers in open locality, pouring savannah, forming floods at the boundaries of coastal forest and gentlemen, canals, islets, impassable reeds and unsubstantial, crumpled papyrus, fusions.

Delta Okavango is one of the most wild places on Earth: this is Africa in a hundred thousand years ago. On the map, it has the appearance of the hand-down brushes with the fingers placed, the narrow plot of her wrist is called Paradl - the least studied area of \u200b\u200bthe Okavango system.

Delta is an environmentally friendly area of \u200b\u200bwildlife, recently received status, is considered one of the largest and most important wetland territories. The kingdom of fish, birds and animals.

A more couple of words about Ocavango and other rivers

Some interesting details about them:

1. Zambezi is the fourth in the length of the African continent's river - in the northeast determines the part of the state border of Namibia with a neighboring Zambia.

It was on Zambezi that the "natural miracle" of a global scale is Victoria Waterfall. The story about him is in one of the following articles.

1. Ocavango is the largest river of the South-West Africa.

Its name varies from the region to the region: from its origin on a high-altitude plateau and all over in Angola, it is known as Kubago, in the lower current on Botswana, is called Ocavanango, and the section of the bed, crossing Namibia is known for two names - and as Okavangano, And like Cavango.

1. From Angola through Carry south to Botswana, another river flows. It is Kwando, and, like Okvango, her channel begins to decay on numerous sleeves, forming a wetland with an area of \u200b\u200b1,500 square kilometers, known as Lignanti marshes.

Wonderful water lilies bloom in the magic waters of the Quando river, about 100 species of fish live in them. Here is a chirping multicolored chorus of birds, in which the species are more than you can imagine.

Spretched in the waves and warm in the sun hippos, huge, like submarines off the coast. Many animals are wrinkled giants of elephants, buffaloes, Kudo, Cupid Antelopes Sitatungi, Red Litchi, Majestic Sobolin Antelopes, Impala and Zebras. The latter is no less than idle guys, so that noticeing the phosatics, no longer give them values.

1. In Caprivi in \u200b\u200bthe area of \u200b\u200bthe Mamil National Park, there are still a few small rivers, but they are in comparison with gigners look so pale that they should not talk about them.

In the morning of the eternal River Okavango

The night has passed perfectly - under the roar of the waterfall, grumbling the hippopotamus and the ringing of the frogs in the distance. By the way, a reed frog, and their millions in Okavango, it easily eats 500 mosquitoes for the night. Hordes of Piskunov also reduce birds, which will be easily feeding them. The feathers live here adapted to life in the area impregnated with an abundance of water, and, for the most part, the reeds were preferred, which came down by the ordown banks of the river and its duct.

In more often, the stems and leaves jump for grasshoppers, water-grooves glide along the aqueous surface, the backs of the female beetles are green. Immediately sand is properly with a pier, where we are waiting for a square two-plane vessel, resembling the painted box from the cake.

We have breakfast, in a good mood we anticipate the pleasure of river cruise. From the guests of Kemp we are alone on the boat. This People is a purely tourist vehicle, aborigued by generations floating on boats wet.

Mocoro - sophisticated and unstable boobs, swept from the whole tree trunk, are deeply sitting in the water. Locals - African Gondoliers, standing, long sixtes are deftly controlled by them. Probably, it's great to slide in such a simplestness among gentle lilies and reeds and, lowering your fingers in warm water, look at the tiny, size with nail, frog, on the eye dragonfly, which frolic and dive over the boat, jumping grasshoppers and many wonderful feathers .

But - scary. What if the hip ark will turn over?

About terrible

And it threatens not only bathing in waters and a bunch of swallowed microbes. Real danger represent:

• water buffaloes that roam along the shores,
• crocodiles with teeth long in a finger, corructuring days, basking on a gentleman, and, at the same time, vigorously watching everything that happens around,
• sleepy hippos, which adore to have fun, diving under such boats.

Oh, how deceptive the sleepy type of hippopotamus, which is inappropriate in the waters of the Okavango River! How is wrong with the one who believes his peaceful vegetarian, lazy and slow two-ton bulbes! It turns out that they are the most dangerous animals on Ocavango. Hippopotamus under water can develop speeds up to 40 km per hour, no lag may chase behind the motor. Here you have a slow ...

In the period when they have small hippopodics, constant moms often come into rage for inexplicably reasons and thrown on everything that turns out to be near - people, animals, and one movement of the mouth of the animals with curved teeth, similar to the beer, can reverse the wet in half. Incidents are. And even with human victims ... In one of the European museums of natural history, a tooth is exposed - or still a talent? - Hippopotamus, the length of the exhibit is as much as 64 cm.

Our black guide speaks good English. It has not been five minutes after our shuttle went in great, almost said Russian, the Okavango River, as he and Sanya chatting, settled on the nose of the ship, and, at the same time, the wool's wool in the binoculars in search of hippo.

About crocodiles who survived dinosaurs

Friends, how do you feel about crocodiles? What feeling you would have experienced when Reptile, similar to this, has passed on short scaly legs just a few meters from you? Perhaps you would admire the beautiful ancient creature, which can be more than 100 years old? But much more often the crocodiles met another human reaction, it was worth it to pay attention to people. Often it was a good dose of lead from high power rifle.

On the shores of Okvango there is no such thing as the "problem" of the crocodile. Here they say that this is just such an animal. Sometimes a danger to human life, but also in need of protection itself. Here, the protection of nature and power can be proud of the efforts to control and manage the situation with crocodiles, as well as targeted changes in the perception of wildlife and these reptiles in the Caprivian masses. The latest good words and and contemptuous metal are convinced to make a choice in favor of preserving prehistoric predators.

It was before the local residents, angry with any of the contemporaries of dinosaurs, did not cost anything to deal with the crocodile, and then in the village arrange a luxurious feast - caparivites always just adored crocodiletin ... and now in restaurants serves dishes from them. Look, here we were offered a kebab from the crocodile. True, looks appetizing? Sanyah ate and said: "awesome reptile, if Cho. Like a chicken! "

By the way, the crocodiles themselves have an amazing property to slow down the functions of their body, so in difficult times can do at all without food for - it's just incredible! - more than two years and after that survive. Well, when they eat, they are without a difference, whom is - Antelope GNU, Kudo, Fish or Man.

I fulfill the promise

Yes, we somehow with you, friends, were going to discuss the difference between the hippopotamus and the hypopotam. So, if among us there were still those who lost and did not recognize it so far, I inform you that there is no difference between them and there was no one, it's just two names of one animal.

The rustling course carries us forward, I look at the screw, he boils, foams, it flashes the shadow, the shadow flashes ... Here Creek Guide: "Hippo!" Screws are muffled, we look into the water. Far in front with a loud snort shown the head. We are to him, and he left us and safely went to the bottom.

In the binoculars, we have seen enough on these giants with pinkish cheeks and pastes of suitcase sizes, but for a good portrait photography, the face hypoposses did not let us.

Birds, couple sleeping on the shore of crocodiles ... Another crowd of hippopots! Own! Or demonstrate their strong teeth? Ah! And these - waited until Sanya focuses on them and immediately dived ... Another one, as sad, I code ...

Dark secrets of the river

The water is given the mysterious power to be a juice of life on earth ... for people living on her shores, Okavango is very important. The river is a source of water for drinking, it gives food, it is used as a transport path. Here is a bunch of women on the shore - obstine your numerous families ...

In the history of mankind, full of legendary creatures. Who did not hear about the Lochnesian monster, or about Yeti living high in the mountains, we had a legend about ... But few know that in the dark depths of Okavanano there is their monster - the keeper of the river, with horns, like Kudo, giant voracious snakes Dikongoro.

Once again, friends, now under a different angle, take a look at the photo of the horned antelope of the beginning of the article. Well, is it impressive? And if adding to the horns ... The legend does not give solid installations, and here each constructs its nightmare, relying on his own taste and the possibility of imagination. I seem to have it turned out to be quite good, since I made up, to whom they belonged to those strange sounds on the night river ...

Meeting with the sorrow is dangerous, but you, friends, lucky: Because I will tell you how to properly act in such an emergency. So, if in some moment your wet sneakly stopped moving, and suspicious ripples began to spread before him, forcing them to rotate and your boat, hurry - you can not lose a second!

That's the water foamed and the huge black head of the snake will rise from it with a disclosed mouth to swallow prey. Do not get sick in horror - it's time to act. Grab your fishing knife, quickly apply the cut on the wrist and drop a few drops of blood into the water. Everything! And then suggesting the thrill Dikongoro will not harm you ...

What does Popa Falls mean?

I am writing about this for the sake of two, from a variety of existing in the world, categories of people. First, for people inquisitive and, secondly, for those who have a rich imagination. Perhaps most of the second. In order to hear in the title, this suspiciously sounding word they were not confused, involuntarily seeing him, because of their own characteristics, a living image of the subject or related process. The rest of the people can painlessly skip a couple of paragraphs.

So what does Popa Falls name mean? Well, if with the second word everything is clear - it means a waterfall, how to be with the causing laughs boot? Honestly, this word remains a linguistic mystery. Wheeling the mass of sources, only one found a statement that "POPA" translates as "exactly here." True, the author does not indicate, from which language it is translated.

And thousands of others, who wrote something about Popls, about the meaning of the name at all, as if they were tied by a circular place of a certain international conspiracy. In general, someone is profitable so that we do not know this ...

Waterfall, which is not a waterfall at all

The word "Waterfall" in the name of the Falls ass causes powerful and raging masses of water, falling from somewhere with a high height, so it is not surprising that many are disappointed seen. Especially compared to not so distant Waterfall Victoria.

Before the Okavanngo River enters the territory of Botswana and dissolve swamps along the delta, its level drops 4 meters. Over all - 1.2 kilometers - the river width is a series of thresholds, which is called Falls pop. They arose as the consequence of an ancient geological fault, and now they are listed as a local attraction. The water on the flocks is noisy, it is heard even in the houses of Kemp and under this noise we slept so sweet ...

But if you look without prejudice, it is a very beautiful sight, especially for semi-desert landscapes of Namibia with rivers-ephemers, when a wide waterflow, divided into a variety of channels, falls by cascades in quartzite ledge and beats about sharp pitfalls.

And growing around the trees and roots together with a yellow sand and pebbles are going to mosaic of beautiful landscapes, to which remarkably fresh air is added.

The thresholds look especially spectacular during the dry season at a low river level. And if at the same time in the upper reaches there is still a good rain ... A curious phenomenon when the river comes out in the midst of the dry season of the river from many millions of cubic meters of water coming from the top to the Kalahari desert. But from February to April, Okavango level is high, we just got at such a time when the thresholds were almost completely flooded.

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Drinking seasonal rivers in Africa or in the deserts on other continents will not surprise anyone, but there is a special case here. In all the parameters of Okavango - not the WED, but a normal river, which does not think to dispel in the dry season. It rollerly rushes along the narrow thumbnail bed with coated shores of the Angolan Plateau Bie down, in the southeast direction; Overcomes before the border with the Botswana, the forming cascade of the waterfalls of the pops of watercourses, blocking it in the entire width, which is 1.2 km in this place. Only on the plateau of the river acquires a flat character.
With a decrease in Ukwanango, the speed slows down and breaks out, spreading the labyrinths of sleeves, lagoon and lakes, forming the largest intramaterial delta in the world. Ocavanango solid annual stock in the mouth, in the delta, about 10 thousand km 3 of the water flows annually, but ... on this very giant delta, the river path usually ends. Okvango does not fall into the lake or to another river, nor in the sea or the ocean. "Where does all this water come? Just some kind of mystic! " - exclaimed one of her researchers in the XIX century. In fact, where?
In the afternoon, the South Sleeve delta feeds the fresh lake NGAM, the northern sleeve periodically, once a few years, gets to the River Kvando, Flow, - and then Ocavanango briefly finds access to the Indian Ocean. And Botlet's Sleeve Occasionally feeds the salted lake of TsKAU on the southern outskirts of the swamp, sampled in the rainy season at the Solonchas of the Sleepless Wpads McGadicagadi. But this is not more than 5% of all the water falling in the delta.
Once Okavanano was part of a large river system of the ancient lake McGadikgadi, presumably the area of \u200b\u200b80 thousand km 2 and a depth of 30 m, but gradually withered about 10 thousand years ago.
Residual reservoirs Delta Okavango are almost everything that has been preserved from a huge lake. Now in his basin in the dry season, huge lifeless salt peculiarities stretch with a cracked salt crust (very large reserves of Potasha), and in the rainy season two big salty lakes are formed in the rainy, and life boils there: animals come, birds arrive, in some places the shores seem pink from thousands of flamingo. Rarely, once every 10-15 years, these lakes-swamps in the rainy season are connected to the Okavango swamp through one of the sleeves of the Botlet's delta.
Recent studies have shown that from the total weight of water, annually falling into a small flat swampy Delta Okavango, about 60% absorb plants (thickets of papyrus and shrubs, algae, pita, lilies, etc.) and 36% evaporates from the water surface. Approximately 2% goes into the ground, and another 2% nagami lake in full years. But the "blue heart" of the northern outskirts of the Kalahari desert of this little, and the NGAM is gradually dried, gradually decreasing in size and turning from a fresh lake into a soda soda sodium, with strips of shames and white shores.
And Delta Okavango, which occupies an area of \u200b\u200babout 15 thousand km 2, and after summer rains during the spill and all 22 thousand km 2, no one is going to rehabilitate and gives a set of birds and animals. In the northeastern part of the delta, the Large Nature Reserve of Mormi (Botswana) was organized.
In the upper reaches of the Okavango River (Kubago) flows from the Bie Plateau to the plain - fast, narrow and definite. Then acquires the plain nature and flows calmly, but before the border with the Botswana, the drains over the entire width of 1.2 km crosses the watercraft (in the dry season they perform over the water), forming waterfalls ass. After them, the dawn river drops 4 m. In the lower river, the river gradually slows the speed as the Kalahari desert approaches the northern outskirts.
Small swampy and flat (drops of height less than 2 m) of the river delta, she also swamp Okvango, forms in the midst of the sands of Calahari Oasis with the richest variety of flora and fauna. Here the water stream path usually ends.
On the map of the northwestern part of Botswana, the inner Delta Okavango with its central swampy part and the sleeves reminds the revealed palm in the form, stretched toward Kalahari.
Okavango is the only permanent river of the Vast Plain Kalahari, located between the Rivers of Zambezi, and in South Africa. On the maps, it is usually referred to as the Kalahari Desert. But these places are not like Sugar or the desert of Arabia; Compared to them, it is not even a desert. In the summer in Kalahari, there are plentiful rains, from 250 mm in the south to 1000 mm in the north of precipitation per year. In addition to one constant river, there are still temporary rivers and lakes here (most of which, however, dries in winter). Trees, shrubs and herbs grow in Kalahari, and in large quantities. Therefore, scientists will not agree in any way, as it is more correct to call it: "deserted savanna", "green semi-desert" or, may, "steppe park landscape". Sometimes on the maps of its central sand area as the "Kalahari Desert", and its outskirts - like the Kalahari Pool. And the extensive green wetlands of the shallow flat delta Okavango in the midst of the sands of the north-western sector of Kalahari desert are the largest oasis in the world. According to its South-West Africa Okavango is no less important than the Nile for the Northeast. The life of all the inhabitants of the surroundings directly depends on their waters.
Okavangano swamp all year round silence every year. This is here, in this giant green oasis, a cane, shrub, water lilying and algae, from afar, come on the aquet of elephants, giraffes and antelopes, lions, leopards and hyenals and many others. This is a paradise for waterfowl, hippopots and all kinds of insects ...
Archaeological finds confirm that people in the lower reaches of Okvango continuously live for 30 thousand years, but they have always been a bit: perhaps, just because of insects - carriers of malaria, sleepy disease and other tropical ailments. Now on the banks of the river they live mainly by the peoples of the group Bantu, including those who granted the name Kawango. Also here live indigenous peoples of hunters and collectors - Bushmen (general name) who inhabited South Africa long before the migration of the bow. The hills Tocodel to the west of the Okavango River delta - the sacred place of Bushmen and their ancestors, with this place they have a lot of legends and the firm conviction that the ancient gods still live in the caves asked by their ancestors to thousands of rock paintings of the stone age.
Okavango in the upper, middle and lower current shared Angola, Namibia and Botswana. And divided in the literal sense, seriously conflicting due to precious in the arid area of \u200b\u200bwater river resources (these territories suffer from drought). Although directly on the banks of the river, economic activity is practically not carried out (due to which, by the way, the water in the river is very clean), Angola and Namibia are trying to save the situation of the existing farms: the first - with the help of the construction of the dam, the second - due to the already constructed channel of the channel and the planned Pipeline construction. On the territory of Botswana is the famous Delta's wildlife, a great contribution to the state treasury is brings ecotourism in the Morov Reserve and the organization of safaris, so that you lose such an important source of income due to the threat of lack of water and, as a result, depletion of flora and fauna, the local government is not intends. Therefore, there are now controversial issues on water consumption between neighboring countries solves the Special Commission.

general information

River, current incubation of the mainland and flowing into the Kalahari desert.

Location: South-West Africa, flows from the Bie Plateau in Angola to the southeast, ending with an extensive swampy delta on the northern outskirts of Kalahari desert.

Method of food: predominantly rain.

Swimming pool: The area of \u200b\u200bthe internal flow, does not fall into any ocean.
The height of the source: 1780 m above sea level (BIE plateore).

Ustye: Okavanngo Marsh (700-1000 m above sea level), in the past - McGadicagadi Lake (dry).

Other names: Kubago (in Angola).

The largest influx: Quito (left).
Proceeds through the territory: The upper flow in Angola, the south of 400 km serves as a natural border between Angola and Namibia, then proceeds through the territory of Botswana.

Numbers

Length: 1600 km - 4th in length in South Africa.
Width: narrow in the upper reaches, up to 20 km closer to the delta.
Pool area: 721 258 km 2.

Delta Square: about 15,000 km 2 (up to 22,000 km 2 in the rainy season) - the largest intramotheric delta in the world.

Medium water consumption: 475 m 3 / s.

Water consumption in the mouth of the seasons: 100-200 m 3 / s in the dry season (November), about 1000 m 3 / s in the rainy season (March and April).

Annual stock: about 10,000 km 3.

Solid stock: about 2 million tons per year of solid precipitation (sand, etc.) and another 2 million tons per year of dissolved salts deposited in the delta during the evaporation of moisture.

Water level: Falls 4 m after waterfalls of priest (before the border with Botswana).

Climate and weather

Delta Okavango is a kind of oasis with a special microclimate, very different from the surrounding tropical arid.

Hot and wet rainy season: December - March (50-80% humidity, during the day to 40 ° C, warm nights).

The most comfortable period: March - beginning of June (during the day about 30 ° C, cool nights).
Dry and Cold Season: June - August (day warm, at night the temperature may drop to 0 ° C).

Dry and hot season: September - November.

The average annual amount of precipitation: 450 mm.

Economy

The banks of the river are few populated; Agricultural and industrial activity along the Okvango channel is practically absent, so the water in it is very clean.

Agriculture: natural economy, hunting and gathering; Livestock in drying sites along the delta in the outskirts.

Fishing.
Field of services: Tourism (Safari and Ecotourism).

sights

■ Natural: Gorge and thresholds in the upper reaches, waterfalls of the priest (up to the border on Botswana), overgrown with reed and lugs of Delta (swamp) Okvango; Lake Ngami with acacia, baobabas and palm trees on the shores, the ancient dried lake McGadikgadi.
■ Mormorm National Park (with an area of \u200b\u200b3900 km 2, is located in the northeastern part of the Okavango River Delta): the park has no fences, animals are fluent in the reserve and beyond; Many come here on the waterfront during the drought season from afar, such as elephants from the neighboring Chobe reserve. From animals in Mormon Park, you can meet zebras, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, baboons, hippo, crocodiles, many different antelopes (Impal, Kudo, Bowbokov, sprinkles, wrappers, bunch and GNU); From predators there are lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and sacks. More than 400 species of birds (dodes, herons, ibisa, etc.).
■ McGadicadi National Park (4900 km 2, is located in the same name of a drying about 10,000 years ago an ancient lake. In the rainy season, lowlands are filled with water and turn into a swamp, wild animals come here and thousands and thousands of birds (especially a lot of pink flamingos) come here.
■ Cultural and historical: The hills are sacred for Bushmen Tsodel to the west of the Okavango River delta - thousands of rock formations of the stone age were found in the masculine caves.

Curious facts

■ Most of the salt islands in Okvango Delta formed at the site of the fracthers.
■ The surface of the delta is almost flat, the height differences are only about 2 m, and the current there is extremely slow: river water requires about seven months to get to her southern edge from the top of the delta.
■ To protect the river delta from poaching and industrial animal husbandry, the Government of Botswana decided to develop tourism. But permission to visit these protected places can only get 4,000 people per year, and it costs it very and very expensive.
■ Botswana is leading the mining of diamonds, but it does not save from hunger the bulk of the population. After the emergency situation, which in the late 1970s, as a result of the drought and epidemic of FMD among the livestock's livestock, it was decided to expand pasture resources due to the separation of the outskirts of the Okavangovo delta districts in order to obtain the opportunity to lift livestock on the marshes of the swamps.

5 facts about the Delta River Okavango

1. Okavango River Millions of years ago fell into a large lake in southern Africa - McChadikhadi (Makgadikgadi Lake). Then, as a result of the tectonic activity of the earth's crust, the natural river bed was blocked, which led to a change in the direction of the flow towards the desert Kalahari. Thus, a unique natural education was formed - the river flowing into the desert.
2. A large process of the territory of Botswana is located in the so-called lowland Kalahari, which is the most extensive semi-desert Africa, and the Okavango River delta is the largest oasis.
3. The second largest animal migration (after the Great Migration in Kenya) occurs in Botswana. More than 30 thousand ZEBR annually migrate through the territory of Ocavango delta from December to March.
4. The period from December to March (the so-called "green season") is the time to remove the offspring not only the mammals of the inhabitants of this area, but also birds flying to wintering from Europe, including from Russia.
5. The passage of land transport is possible only to a small section of the Mormi Reserve from the "Capital Delta Ocavango" Maun. In other cases, the option is only with light aircraft.

The flight from Shinde to Mormi takes 25 minutes.

1 The entire flight passes over the territory of the Ocavango delta, so you can add view about landscapes.
Basically, it is the scolded smooth papyrus, cut by sleeves and delta channels.

2 Sometimes there are enough big slices of sushi ...

3 or very small islands on one tree. As a rule, the basis of such small islets is solid.

4 Large islands are formed by the bottom of the bottom soil as a result of the channel overlap or the delta sleeve.

5

6 Water in the Delta is relatively clean and transparent. In a clear sunny day, all underwater life is perfectly visible from the boat.

7 Thickets of papyrus and downturns are written by "paths", which are protruding elephants and other large animals. Subsequently, such paths have every chance of becoming another Delta Channel.

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9 Some channels over time expand and strengthen, turning into full-fledged rivers.

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11 Often there are Fatherland palm trees that dominate the external contour of the islands.

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15 Under some trees, even an air can see animals.

16 A lot of dead trees.

17 Go to the landing ...

18 Entry to the reserve is near the runway. Here you will definitely be recorded in Grossbuch, including your citizenship and religion for statistics.
By the way, as I have already written above, Mormi is the only place in the Okavanngo delta, which can be reached by land from Maun. Therefore, you can find self-drivers here. Arriving here on your own or car rental (full-wheel drive), you can stay in one of the Camps or on the territory of the equipped Campsight, breaking your own tent.

19 Immediately after entering the reserve, as usual, the transfer turns into safaris.

20 The road from the runway to Campa Okuti takes 15 minutes from the strength, while Birds are mostly coming across. Immediately striking the non-empty of local fauna, let's see enough.

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22 Okuti Camp - one of the three cells on the territory of the publicly available part of the Mormi Reserve. Okuti belongs to Ker & Downey, two others: Camp Moremi and Camp Xakanaka (read like Kakanaka) - DESERT & DELTA.
Despite the fact that Okuti is not a lodge, but Camp, looking at the numbers, they can be called tents with a large stretch. Well, except because of the tarpaulin performing the function of the external coating.

23 Inside the number also does not look "tent". It is quite a good number of a five-star hotel with a balcony-veranda, all amenities, including two souls: one in the room and the second outdoor.
Such here is the luxury in the middle of nowhere.

I would like to focus on the general rules inherent in all Camp in Okavanngo delta, regardless of the level of luxury.
1. No mobile communications. Forget about mobile operators, roaming and other tariff plans. For emergency cases, the administration of any Campa has a satellite telephone connection
2. Niccle Wi-Fi. None in the rooms or in the general territory of Campa. At best, one laptop connected to the satellite Internet will be standing in the total area of \u200b\u200bCampa. The speed of such an Internet to make you remember the good word of all forgotten Dial-Up.
3. Do not hope, there are no TVs in the rooms. The best evening television program in Africa is a starry sky under the Shary cup and the singing of the cicad. If you're lucky, you can get to the full moon or the Milky Way, on the dumplings of the fireflies.
3. Accommodation in all Camps on the FULLY INCLUSIVE system - everything is included: meals, drinks (except for premium brands), safaris, laundry, etc.
4. All rooms are necessarily present.
- spray from mosquitoes for the room
- Spray from mosquitoes for skin
- flashlight
- Horn is a mechanical device, publishing a loud sound. Used in the event of the threat of your safety. After you have become the initiator of a loud sound, it is recommended to turn on the light / shine with a flashlight into the window.
5. The last subparagraph 4 of paragraph 4 hints that cases are different. In case you heard a loud outlet sound, but it does not threaten anything to you, then refrain from any illumination in your room. This will help the Administration of Campa on luminous windows to determine who requires Validol help.
6. It goes without saying, in the dark, the day of movement on Campo without maintenance of the Rangers is categorically not recommended.

Such a safety instruction occurs every time in check-in.

24 Listened to the instructions, decomposed things, decided to walk ... Near the entrance to the room was sitting such a Martha, pretending that he is waiting for the tram to me there is no nickest business.

Sooner or later, organizational issues end, the formalities are observed and it is time to move on to business, that is, to safaris, especially at the entrance to the Camp, a pair of breadcroks is silent.

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26 Moremi Reserve is known for high probability to meet in the Safari Cat Representatives: Lviv, Leopards, Chepadov. With this mood we left.
As I wrote, December - the period of offspring the offspring of the onboard. These are such ancophase tenderness occur at every turn.

27 kids learn to care for themselves ...

28 Animals are absolutely non-repurrent and not against portrait shooting.

29 every zebra, even recently born, relies on buffalo Skvortz :)

30 Antilope Tsetsebe - a relative of East African Topi

31 Forest Kingfehehr (Woodland Kingfisher)

32 Red Rhino Bird (Redbilled Hornbill)

33 At some point, the photographic sitting in the jig of photographs almost simultaneously came to the opinion that the birds in Mormi were so relaxed that there was not enough speakers. Ranger offered to turn on the engine, the sharp sound will frighten the feathery and it will fly away.
Once or twin, it turned out :)

34 Well, what is Okavanngo without antelope lychee!

35 Landscapes of Moremi are the same fascinating as the animal world. Mormi features all types of landscapes inherent in Okavanngo delta. This is savanna.

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37 and fuel meadows

38 and wooded terrain

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40 Self-dealers in the delta perform the function Sparrow, at least in terms of numbers.

41 male antietacks lychee. Sometimes they are very picturesquely jump, and sometimes they run on semi-bent, pulling the neck forward.

42 By tradition, the evening safari ends with Sandaner.

43 On the way back to Camp comes across another touching scene with the participation of Implit right next to the road.

44 Morning. Already familiar awakening from the traditional "Knock, Knock. Your Coffee is Ready "and caffeys in the company Rainbow Skworts.

45 Morning safari begins with the seamy with the Kudo Antofa, which turns out the road right in front of the jeep.

46 Other beeled, swallow (SwallowTailed Bee-Eater).

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48 CopperyTailed Cuckoo (Copperytailed Coucal)

49 water goats (Waterbok).

50 Rhino Bird Bird.

51 detained with a lonely giraffy accompanied by buffalo star (oxpeckers)