Tourists in the Okavango Delta
The delta is an alluvial fan covering nearly 12000 km squared. The climate in Botswana is semi-arid receiving only about 450 mm of rain per year. Due to the alluvial fan dispersing the water across the desert surface, and the dry climate nearly 95% of the water is lost into the atmosphere via evaporation.
The delta only floods seasonally and varies greatly from year to year. The flood peaks in April at the northern point. The waters then disperse over the next 3-4 months traveling about 250km. During this 3-4 months the water floods into the entire alluvial fan by overland flow and various channels that connect the delta to its northernmost source. There are a few indicators of how much flooding will occur for any particular year. The best indicator is a high discharge at Maun, the source of the Okavango. This indicator can have major impacts on the economy of Botswana. It helps predict the number of tourists the region will be able to accommodate and how wide the flooding will take place. It can also have tremendous environmental repercussions as scientists and conservationists can determine the needs of the animal and plant populations in the region in order to preserve the delta and its biodiversity. This biodiversity can be attributed to the hydrological factors that have contributed so greatly to the formation of the delta every year. Many flora and fauna are unique to the Okavango region as well as the delta serving as a major junction for animal migration highways.
Animal life of the Delta
Sources:
Regional review: the hydrology of the Okavango Delta, Botswana—processes, data and modelling
