Hydrology

The hydrology of the Okavango Delta is of upmost importance due to the economic and ecological significance of area. We will attempt to overview the key hydrological aspects of the delta and how they in turn affect both native and global communities.

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

Formation and Tectonics of the Okavango Delta.
     The Okavango Delta is one of the most peculiar places on earth. The delta is 18,000 square kilometers of waterways, reed beds and oasis forests in the middle of the desert. The Okavango, instead of emptying into the ocean as most deltas do, empties itself into the largest continuous stretch of sand in the world, the Kalahari Desert. This unique clashing of seemingly opposite worlds creates one of the most beautiful locations on earth as well as a thriving epicenter for African wildlife. But the secret to this mysterious desert oasis is not found on the surface but much deeper in the faults and pulling apart of tectonic plates which effect the surface here in mighty ways. It may shock you too learn that the Delta has, on average, one significant earth quake per day. Although never felt at the surface this activity alludes to the great forces that created this natural wonder.

     The waters that will eventually become the Delta originate in the Angola Highlands in the Cubango River. As it flows southeast into Namibia it becomes the Kavango River. 1000 miles later as it enters Botswana it becomes the Okavango River. A series of fault lines then cause the river to split into its fan-like form. The first is the Gomare fault. At this point the Okavango river splits into many different waterways. It then flows over many other parallel faults until it is finally stopped by the Kunyere and Thamalakane faults. These faults act to block the water from progressing into the desert and so the water, as if by magic, comes to an abrupt halt. 

     This faulting can be seen as a continuance of the African Rift Valley found to the northeast. Here the Nubian and Somali plates are pulling Africa apart. The faulting that has formed the Okavango owes its origin to this rift system that is so far away.

Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/e/eldredge-life.html

http://www.eyesonafrica.net/african-safari-botswana/okavango-info.htm

http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/rift-valley/?ar_a=1

Introduction

This blog is a survey highlighting the geographic intrigues of the Okavango Delta located in Botswana.

  Created by Tyler Gautier for Physical Geography 1202. The Okavango Delta is a place often highlighted by nature programs on the National Geographic Channel. Thus many rainy days of my childhood were spent gasping at the size and strength of Africa's most dangerous beasts alongside the flocks and herds of the more fragile animals as they all clashed amidst the life bringing waters of the Okavango.

 Due to this childhood intrigue the Okavango Delta has long been a dream destination for future adventures. I look forward to learning and sharing more about this wild oasis of the African plains.