Fish River Canyon . It is located in Namibia , it is one of the longest canyons in the world, it is the largest in Africa . It is exhibited along a 161 kilometer ravine, 27 kilometers wide and 550 meters deep in places. It has been eroded for 650 million years by the forces of water, wind, gravity and movements of the earth. The waters of the Fish River circulate through the canyon, this being the longest river in Namibia. It passes through the very dry, stony plateau and poorly covered with plants very resistant to drought.
Summary
[ hide ]
- 1 History
- 2 Location and size
- 3 Tourism
- 4 Sources
History
The canyon is not carved by the erosion of the water of the Fhis river . The beginnings of the canyon began about 500 million years ago, when a fracture in the earth’s crust collapsed forming a wide valley that runs from north to south. Glaciers moving southward deepened with more faults and erosion adding to the effect. It wasn’t until about 50 million years ago that the Fish River began to cut its way along the valley floor. Represents guilt for the canal-gorge of the product and the appearance of the hot sulphurous springs found in Ai-Ais .
It belongs to a very arid region of Namibia , it is the only river in the country that has pools of water in its middle reaches. The Ai-Ais area was used as a base by the Germans in their war against the Namas . It was finally declared a national monument in 1962 . Ai-Ais was inaugurated in 1971 .
Location and size
South of Namibia , the Fhis River rises in the center of the country, before flowing south into the Orange River , on Namibia’s border with South Africa . In its midst, the great Fish River Canyon has formed , the largest in the southern hemisphere , being the second largest in the world, only surpassed by the Grand Canyon of Arizona . The great rocky landscape is divided into a series of spectacular cliffs. The river only flows in the rainy season, from January to April.
tourism
Visitors visiting Fish River Canyon primarily flock to:
- Ai Ais National Park . It is around the southern part of the Fish River Canyon and was proclaimed a conservation area in 1969 . Their lands being very poor for agriculture, they were used for tourism, being a form of protection of the development zone. The national park has 345,000 ha, now encompasses Ai-Ais and Hobas . A more recent initiative has seen the park linked to the Richtersveld similar to the environment in South Africa , Namibia Peace Park: Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park .
- Flora and fauna. In the area we can find herds of Hartmann’s mountain zebras , small groups of kudu and the smaller Klipspringer antelope , which are normally seen in pairs, Baboon and Dassies (aka rock rabbits) are common, leopard , although certainly nowadays, they are very seldom seen. It is not unusual to drive for a couple of hours, and see no mammals at all.
The birds are also around, it is believed that only about 60 species live here, we find the majestic black eagle and the hawk , dove . Karoo Bustards and Ostrich are the highlights of the open plains above the canyon itself. In the same canyon we can see herons , cormorants and martins .
The vegetation both at the top and on the slopes of the canyon is mirrored by larger species, mostly euphorbia, with the rare Quivertree and occasional deep red Aloe , Aloe gariepensis . However, part of the base of the canyon where there is water are quite lush, like the sulfur springs with their palm trees and further south towards Ai-Ais, there are wild camelthorn , tamarisk and ebony trees, among others.
- Hiking on the Fhis River . The Fhis River Canyon hike is one of the most difficult hikes in Africa. A professional guide can even be arranged to accompany you, or a satellite phone to take. However, the responsibility for purchasing and carrying all food and equipment remains strictly with you. Once the hike begins, there is no easy way out.
