Okavango DeltaBy Linda Tucker

Geography

Characteristics• Over 10 km3 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– 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

Animal Life

Plant Life

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 (4th

ed). 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/

Questions?