This desert is considered the oldest desert on our planet, born when dinosaurs still lived on the planet (about eighty million. years ago). In the language of the people Nama Namib means “a place in which there is nothing”. Namib occupies an area of about a hundred thousand square meters. km.
Climate
The foggy desert is rightfully considered the dry and cold desert of our planet. During the year of moisture, only 13 millimeters (in the coastal zone) falls to 52 millimeters at the eastern border. These are usually shortterm, but very strong rains. In the rare years of precipitation does not fall out at all.
In the coastal part of the desert, the temperature rarely drops to a plus of ten degrees, and rises above sixteen heat. And therefore, in the coastal part there is practically no difference in air temperature between summer and winter, as well as day and night. Closer to the central part, the cool sea air loses its lifegiving coolness, and the temperature strives for the mark of + 31 degrees. At the bottom of the canyons, a column of thermometers can rise to + 38 degrees. At night, the temperature in the central part may drop to zero.
Thanks to such a peculiar climate in Namib in the morning, a very large number of dews stand out.
Plants
One of the amazing representatives of the endemic of Flora Velvy.
Velvia
This plant is unique in that it can survive in such harsh desert conditions. Throughout life (which, by the way, can reach a thousand years or more), Velvy gives two large sheets, but not more than three meters long, but the roots of this amazing plant reach for water to a depth of about three meters. Velvia survives in such a dry climate using moisture of fogs and falling dew. This amazing plant rightfully occupies its honorable place on the emblem of Namibia.
Another of the brightest representatives of the Flora of Namiba is a quilted tree (a plant of the genus Aloe).
Boiled wood
The tree grows to nine meters, with a smooth barrel and branches growing almost vertically upwards with green-blue leaves. Previously, quivers and arrows made it from it.
Another interesting plant is found on the sandy dunes of Namiba the acantosyzia is pricing (nara or melon of deserts).
Acantosyzia is prostitute
This amazing plant has no leaves at all, but very long and sharp spikes (they reach 3 centimeters long). Strong and durable peel (armor) protects from moisture evaporation very delicate and fragrant pulp. All the inhabitants of the desert are festering the fruits of this plant. And for the local population, the melon of the desert is almost the main source of food throughout the year.
Animals
Fauna of the Namib desert is slightly more diverse. The most common animal of the desert is sulfate or better known name Orix Antilope, the embodiment of endurance and modesty. That is why Sernobyk is located on the coat of arms of Namibia.
Sulfur (Orix Antilopa)
In north of Namiba, African elephants live, the largest birds on the planet African ostriches, zebras, rhinos, king of animals (lions), jackals and hyenas.
African elephant
African ostrich
Zebra
Rhinoceros
a lion
Jackal
Hyena
Ants, road wasps live on desert dunes (which can find and dig a spider from its mink, the depth of which reaches fifty centimeters), mosquitoes. Namib serves the house for skating golden spider. When there is a danger, this spider turns into a glomerulus and roll at a speed of fortyfour turns per second. The spider is forced to such a flight of traffic wasp, which is hunting for laying eggs in his body.
Another amazing inhabitant of the sandy sands is Grant Grants. The length of this animal is only 9 centimeters.
On sand dunes with virtuoso ease, the Namibian Haeckon and the Tailed Viper, capable of developing speeds of up to ten kilometers per hour, move.
The coastal part of Namiba is rich in fish. Here, a large number of seals are arranged on the roles that rest and escape from predators. So, in abundance, representatives of the fauna cormorants, flamingos, pelicans are found here.
Cormlan
Flamingo
Pelican
Location
Namiba sands spread along the Atlantic Ocean for one thousand nine hundred kilometers. P. Namib originates in g. Mosamedish (Angola), runs through the entire territory of the state of Namibia to R. Elephantes (Kapskaya Province of the South African Republic). From the coast of the ocean deep into Africa, Namib goes 50 160 kilometers to the foot of a large ledge. In the south, the Namib desert joins the Kalahari desert.
Desert map
Relief
The relief of the Namib desert has a slight slope to the east. At the foot of a large lecture, the height of the terrain reaches 900 meters. In some places, rocky mountains rise above the sands, with gorges that have steep high cliffs.
Most of the southern namiba is covered with sand (yellow-gray and red-brick color). Sandshaped margins stretch to twenty kilometers parallel to the line of the coast. The height of the march reaches two hundred forty meters.
The northern part of Namiba mainly consists of stones and rocky plateau.
Interesting Facts
- There are relict plants in Namiba about 2500 years, and the barrel is more than a meter diameter.
- The desert slowly absorbs the ghost city Kolmanoscope, which arose during diamond fever fifty years ago.
- Among the endless sands, the largest and most famous dune in the world “Dune 7” is spread out. It has a height of three hundred eightythree meters.
- On the coast of the desert is the socalled “shore of skeletons”. In fact, this is the cemetery of the crashing ships. Separate vessels lie at a fairly large distance from the water surface (about 500 meters).
- There is an amazing place on the territory of Namib-the roaring dunes of Terras-Bey. Under certain conditions, a deafening roar resembling the sound of an engine of a reactive aircraft is carried over the sands.
