The Kalahari desert
Δευτέρα, 18 Ιανουαρίου 2010 7:04 μμ |
The Kalahari desert
Kalahari desert is a huge area, covered with sand, located in southwest Africa. The desert is a semi-dry one , and it is extending 900 000 km2 , covering parts of Botswana , Namimbia and South Africa .Kalahari is the southernmost desert in Africa and the geography is a portion of desert and plateau . There are small amounts of rainfall, usually on winter and spring. The rainfall is about 7.5 to 17.5 centimeters (cm) of rain per year .There is only one permanent river, that is called Okavango, and it flows into a delta in the northwest, forming marshes that are rich in wildlife. Furthermore many small rivers, called Omuramba are created there, and they provide pools of water , during the rainy season , as well as relaxation for the animals .
Devised by the word Kgala , that means great thirst , Kalahari is not a true desert as in some areas , rainfall overcomes 25 cm annually , making Kalahari a rather arid savanna covered with grasses and trees . Temperatures in Kalahari, during summer range from 25°C to 45°C, as it was once a much wetter place. There are many animals, that live in Kalahari desert, such as antelope , meerkat , giraffe and jackals . Furthermore, leopard and cheetah can be found there , though the circumstances are not suitable for them . In Kalahari, there are some of the rarest plants in earth , the camel thorn and the shepherd tree is one of them . Plants in Kalahari, tend to have extremely large and deep roots , up to 40 meters long , as they try to find water , deep into the ground . Water melon, as well as cucumber and mushrooms are responsible for maintaining life in the desert for both man and animals, during the long drought years.