Okavango Delta
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Okavango Delta. By Linda Tucker. Geography. Characteristics. Over 10 k m 3 of water flows through delta annually Vast array of channels, lagoons, oxbow lakes, and islands Seasonal flooding Majority of flood waters come from the highlands of Angola, approx. 2000 km away
Okavango Delta
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Okavango Delta By Linda Tucker
Characteristics • Over 10 km3of water flows through delta annually • Vast array of channels, lagoons, oxbow lakes, and islands • Seasonal flooding • Majority of flood waters come from the highlands of Angola, approx. 2000 km away • Flood waters arrive during dry season due to low gradient of river • Water surface expands from 2500 km2 in February up to 12000 km2 in August
Where Does All the Water Go? • 60% taken up by plants • 36% evaporates • 2% makes its way into groundwater • 2% flows out of the delta to the Boteti River or Lake Ngami
Threats • Increased burning • Clearing for crop production or livestock • Extraction of water from the river by countries upstream (such as Angola and Namibia) • Pollution upstream • Tourism
References • Mitsch, W.J. & Gosselink, J.G. (2007). Wetlands (4thed). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. • http://www.orc.ub.bw/downloads/FS1_waters.pdf • http://www.botswanatourism.co.bw/okavangoDelta.php • http://www.okavangodelta.com/ • http://www.eosnap.com/rivers/floodwaters-move-towards-bottom-of-okavango-delta-botswana/