April 27th, 2013 Category: Lakes, Rivers, Wetlands

Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia – April 27th, 2013

Multiple lakes and wetland areas can be observed in this image that focuses on Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia (counter-clockwise from lower left quadrant). Visible near the center left is the Okavango Delta, an inland delta in Botswana, with the salt flats of the Makgadikgadi Pan to the southeast. In the upper left quadrant is the Barotse Floodplain, in Zambia, while in the upper right quadrant is Lake Kariba, on the Zimbabwe-Zambia border.

The area in the center of the image is the Caprivi Strip, a narrow protrusion of Namibia eastwards from the Okavango Region about 450 km (280 mi), between Botswana to the south, and Angola and Zambia to the north. Caprivi is bordered by the Okavango, Kwando, Chobe and Zambezi rivers. 

Tags: Angola Barotse Floodplain Botswana Caprivi Strip Lake Kariba Makgadikgadi Pan Namibia Okavango Delta Zambia Zimbabwe | Comments |

March 30th, 2013 Category: Wetlands

Zambia – March 29th, 2013

The Barotse Floodplain, visible as a wide green strech running vertically across the right half of this image (also known as the Bulozi Plain, Lyondo or the Zambezi Floodplain) is one of Africa’s great wetlands, on the Zambezi River in the Western Province of Zambia. It is a designated Ramsar site, regarded as being of high conservation value.

The floodplain stretches from the Zambezi’s confluence with the Kabompo and Lungwebungu Rivers in the north, to a point about 230 km south, above the Ngonye falls and south of Senanga. Along most of its length its width is over 30 km, reaching 50 km at the widest, just north of Mongu, principal town of the plain, situated at its edge. The main body of the plain covers about 5500 km², but the maximum flooded area is 10 750 km² when the floodplains of several tributaries are taken into account.

About 250,000 people live on the plain with a similar number of cattle, migrating to grasslands at the edge of the floodplain when the flood arrives. The floodplain is one of the most productive areas for raising cattle in the country. It is also used for fishing and cultivating crops such as maize, rice, sweet potato, and sugar cane.

Tags: Barotse Floodplain Zambia | Comments |

May 8th, 2012 Category: Image of the day, Lakes, Rivers, Salt Flats

Botswana - April 28th, 2012

Many bodies of water, different in size and hydrology, can be observed in this image of Angola (upper left), Zambia (upper right), Botswana (lower left) and Zimbabwe (lower right).

Visible by the right edge is the dark blue Lake Kariba, located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is the world’s largest artificial reservoir by volume. Southwest of the lake is the Makgadikgadi Pan, in Botswana, the world’s largest salt flat complex.

In the center of the image is the Caprivi Strip, a narrow protrusion of Namibia eastwards about 450 km (280 mi), between Botswana to the south, Angola and Zambia to the north, and Okavango Region to the west. Caprivi is bordered by the Okavango, Kwando, Chobe and Zambezi Rivers.

To the west is the Okavango Delta, formed where the Okavango River empties onto the Kalahari Desert. To the north is the Barotse Floodplain, which begins by the Zambezi River’s confluence with the Kabompo and Lungwebungu Rivers in the north. The region is a flat plateau at an elevation of about 1000 m tilting very slightly to the south.

Tags: Angola Barotse Floodplain Botswana Caprivi Strip Chobe River Kalahari Desert Kwando River Lake Kariba Makgadikgadi Pan Okavango Delta Okavango River Zambezi River Zambia Zimbabwe | Comments |

January 24th, 2012 Category: Rivers, Wetlands

Zambia - January 6th, 2012

The Barotse Floodplain, visible as a bright green area by the Zambezi River on the left side of this image, is one of Africa’s great wetlands and a designated Ramsar site. It is located in the Western Province of Zambia. The region is a flat plateau at an elevation of about 1000 m tilting very slightly to the south. The Zambezi and its headwaters rise on the higher ground to the north, which enjoys good rainfall (1400 mm annually) in a rainy season from October to May.

The floodplain stretches from the Zambezi’s confluence with the Kabompo and Lungwebungu Rivers in the north, to a point about 230 km south, above the Ngonye falls and south of Senanga. Along most of its length its width is over 30 km, reaching 50 km at the widest. The main body of the plain covers about 5500 km², but the maximum flooded area is 10 750 km² when the floodplains of several tributaries are taken into account.

Tags: Zambezi River Zambia | Comments |