The main wealth of Namibia is its exotic nature, boundless national parks, a diverse animal and plant world. But there are not so many lakes in the country, but each of them surprises and fascinates. For example, some of the reservoirs are dry basins and are filled with water only during prolonged rains.
The main lakes of Namibia
Let's get acquainted with the most famous water reservoirs of the country:
- The underground lake , which was discovered by speleologists in the north of Namibia, is the largest underground lake in the world. It is located in a karst cave called "Drachen Hauklok", which means "nostrils of the dragon". The lake was found at a depth of 59 m below ground, it occupies 0.019 square meters in area. km. The deepest depth of the underground lake is fixed at 200 m. The temperature of unusually clear water at any time of the year is + 24 ° C.
- Etosha is considered the largest lake in Namibia - a reservoir located in the north of the country on the territory of the homonymous national park . Previously, it was a salt lake, which fed on the waters of the river Cunene. Now this is a huge space with dry cracked white clay on the surface. It is filled with Etosha due to precipitation during the rainy season to a depth of 10 cm. The drainage basin of the lake occupies about 4000 sq. Km. km.
- Otchikoto - the most picturesque permanent lake, is also in the north of Namibia, 50 km from the Etosha National Park. Otchikoto has an almost ideal round shape, its diameter is 102 m. The depth of this lake has not been established to date, scientists believe that it can reach 142-146 m. From the Herero language, the name of the lake is literally translated as "deep water" and indigenous local residents consider it bottomless. Since 1972 Otchikoto is the National Natural Monument of Namibia.
- Guinas is the second natural lake in Namibia. It is located 30 km from Otchikoto, and was formed as a result of the collapse of the karst in the dolomite caves. The average depth of this permanent reservoir is 105 m, the maximum depth is fixed at 130 m. The area of the water mirror of Guinas is 6600 sq. M. m. From all sides the lake is surrounded by steep cliffs, due to this the water has a dark blue, almost ink color. It is a pond in a private area, tourists can visit it by obtaining the permission of the owner of the farm.
- Lake Sossusflei is located in the central part of the Namib Desert on a plateau covered with a layer of salt and cracked clay, called the dead. The name of the reservoir was formed from two words: sossus - "the place of collecting water", vlei - a shallow lake, which is filled only in the rainy season. The very existence of the lake is a real miracle of nature. Once in a few years, the Tsokhab River reaches the desert, filling the inland lake with life-giving moisture. Then both Sossusflei and the Tsokhab River disappear for a few years without a trace.