Okavango River

The Okavango is a big river in Africa.

It flows through three lands. It starts in Angola. Then it goes to Namibia. Finally, it flows into Botswana.

The river does not reach the sea. It flows into a dry desert. This makes a large, wet area.

Many animals live there.

Rain falls in the north. The water travels a long way. It takes many months to move. Then, the desert becomes a big swamp. This brings many animals to the water. It is a very special place.

The Okavango River is a large river in southwest Africa.

It starts in the highlands of Angola. From there, it flows south. It forms a border between Angola and Namibia. Finally, it flows into Botswana.

This river is very special because it has no outlet to the sea. Instead, it flows into the Okavango Delta. This delta is a huge wetland in the Kalahari Desert.

The river also has many parts called tributaries. The Cuito River is one major tributary. Before the river enters Botswana, it flows over rapids called Popa Falls.

Rain in Angola makes the river grow. The water takes many months to travel to the delta. When the water arrives, the desert turns into a big swamp. This happens during the dry winter months in Botswana. The delta can grow to three times its normal size. This brings many animals to the area.

Because the land is so flat, the water changes the shape of the delta often. The river also carries much sand and silt into the swamp.

The Okavango River is a very important river in southwest Africa.

It has different names depending on where it flows. In Botswana, people call it the Okavango River. In Angola, it is known as the Cubango. When it reaches Namibia, it is called the Kavango. It is the fourth-longest river system in southern Africa. The river begins in the sandy highlands of Angola. It flows southeastward toward the Kalahari Desert.

This river works in a very unusual way. Most rivers flow into a large sea or ocean. The Okavango does not have an outlet to the sea. Instead, it flows into the Okavango Delta. This area is a huge wetland inside a desert basin. The river carries much sand, silt, and mud with it. Every year, it moves 28,000 tonnes of sediment to the swamps. This happens because the land is made of Kalahari sand.

History tells us that this area was once very different. During much colder times in Earth's history, the Kalahari was a massive lake. This lake was called Lake Makgadikgadi. The Okavango River would have been one of its largest tributaries. Today, the river still connects to parts of that old system. In the rainy season, water can flow toward the Makgadikgadi Pans. This creates a wet area where many flamingos gather each summer.

Nature creates a wonderful cycle of flooding here. Angola receives three times more rain than Botswana. This extra water travels slowly down the river. It can take a whole month to travel the first 1,000 km. Then, it takes four more months to move through the delta. Because of this, the biggest floods arrive between June and August. This is during the dry winter in Botswana. The delta can swell to three times its usual size.

Because the water is so precious, people must share it carefully. Namibia and Botswana both face hard times with drought. Namibia has built a 300 km canal for water. They also proposed a 250 km pipeline to move river water. Botswana uses the delta for tourism and as a water source. They say 97% of the water is lost to evaporation. To help, three countries signed an agreement in 1994. This group helps them share the river's resources fairly.

The Okavango River is a major river system in southwest Africa. It is a vital source of water in a very dry region. The river has different names depending on the country it passes through. In Angola, it is called the Cubango. In Namibia, it is known as the Kavango. In Botswana, it is called the Okavango. It is the fourth-longest river system in southern Africa.

The river begins in the sandy highlands of Angola at a high elevation. From there, it flows southeastward toward the Kalahari Desert. It eventually forms part of the border between Angola and Namibia. Finally, the river flows into Botswana. Unlike most rivers, the Okavango does not have an outlet to the sea. Instead, it discharges into an endorheic basin. This means the water flows into an inland area called the Okavango Delta. This delta is also known as the Okavango Alluvial Fan.

The river's health depends on its principal tributaries. The Cubango and Cuito rivers are the most important ones. These rivers provide much of the water for the delta. In the upper reaches of the Cuito, vegetation is sometimes cleared by controlled burns. This can cause clogging and reduce the water flow downstream. This happens because the water flows into the sand instead of staying in the river. Before the river enters Botswana, it passes through Popa Falls. These are a series of rapids that are visible when the river is low during the dry season.

A unique flooding cycle creates a massive wetland every year. Angola receives three times more rainfall than Botswana. This heavy rain in Angola creates a high flow of water. However, the water moves very slowly. It takes one month to travel the first 1,000 km of the river. It takes another four months to filter through the plants and channels of the delta. Because of this delay, the flood is largest between June and August. This occurs during the dry winter months in Botswana. During these big floods, the delta can swell to three times its permanent size.

The delta is a very flat landscape. At its widest point, the seasonal swamp can stretch 150 km from east to west. The height variation over this distance is less than 2 m. This extreme flatness means small changes in sand can change the river's path. The river also carries a lot of material called sediment. Every year, it carries 28,000 tonnes of suspended sediment and 28,000 tonnes of bedload. Most of this is fine sand, silt, and mud from the Kalahari sand. The water has a low concentration of dissolved solids, around 40 mg/L. These solids include silica, calcium, and magnesium bicarbonates.

History shows that this landscape has changed over time. During much colder periods in Earth's history, the Kalahari was a massive lake. This was known as Lake Makgadikgadi. The Okavango was likely one of its largest tributaries. Today, the river still connects to parts of that old system. In the rainy season, water can flow to the Boteti River. This water then moves to the Makgadikgadi Pans. This area becomes a large wetland where tens of thousands of flamingos gather every summer. The river also helps fill Lake Ngami.

Because water is scarce, countries must manage it carefully. Namibia and Botswana both experience droughts. Namibia has built a 300 km water canal. They also proposed a 250 km pipeline to divert river water. Botswana uses the delta for tourism and as a water source. Botswana states that 97% of the river water is lost to evaporation. To prevent conflict, Angola, Namibia, and Botswana signed an agreement in 1994. This created the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission. This group advises the three nations on sharing resources.

New activities are also happening in the region. A company called ReconAfrica has licenses to explore for oil. They have licenses for over 13,600 square miles in Namibia and Botswana. Drilling began on the first exploration well in January 2021. Some activists worry about the environmental review process. However, the company and the governments say they are following due process. They also stated that no fracking will occur. The drilling area in Kavango West is near many protected areas. This includes a UNESCO World Heritage site and several wildlife reserves.