The term ‘Kalahari’ is derived from the Southern African Language of Tswana. The term roughly translates into ‘The Great Thirst’. It is classified as a semi-desert, as it receives small amounts of rainfall throughout the year. Regardless, parts of this desert are some of the driest in the African Region.
It spans a distance of over 9 Lakhs sq km, touching Botswana, Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo. The largest area it covers is in Botswana where roughly 70% of the country is located within. It is 2nd Largest in Africa and 6th largest in the whole world.
The fruit Kiwano also known as horned melon belongs to the cucumber family and is found through the region. Along with the Gemsbok Cucumber and the Citron Melon, it is one of the few food items that is the source of water during the dry season. The fruit itself has a horn-like spikes on the exterior and is said to taste like a combination of a passion fruit and banana. It is typically eaten as a snack or used in salads or salsas.
Windhoek, the capital of Namibia is the only major capital city located within the Kalahari. Windhoek is unique due to the amount of sunlight it receives each year, averaging just over 3600 hours per year.
Kalahari Depression is a large lowland that covers over 2.5 million sq kms, houses the Kalahari Desert. Within the depression are various important vegetation features including the Acacia Trees and the African Rosewood. The lowlands are home to the Makgadikgadi Pan which is visited by millions of Flamingos during the rainy season.
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the second largest game reserve in the world and has been inhabited by San People also known as Bushmen. For centuries they have provided for themselves as hunter-gatherers. Since the 1990s, the Botswana government has tried to relocate the Bushmen away from the desert claiming that they have been a drain on potential tourism and economic resources found in the reserve.
The Makgadikgadi Pan is the largest Salt Flats in the world covering over 16,000 sq/km in Northeastern Botswana. When it was a lake, it is believed to have been at least the size of Switzerland. However sadly this region since the 1990s have been threatened by both Industry and Human error.
Okavango River swells to three times its size during the wet season in Angola. It loses 97% of its yearly water intake through evaporation. During the wet season, Angola receives three times more rainfall than neighbouring Botswana. The Okavango River does not have an outlet to the sea. Instead, it discharges into Okavango Delta. As a result, one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife occur along the banks of the river.
It has one of the biggest diamond mines in the world. Diamonds were discovered in the area about 30 years ago, and the Ghaghoo Mine first opened in 2014. It is also rich in Copper, Nickel and Coal.
This Region is the only place which grows Hoodia, a plant which is used all over the world in diet pills and supplements because of its hunger- suppressing properties. It is said that Bushmen can go 48 hours without feeling any hunger after consuming it.
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