1. Okavango Delta By Linda Tucker World’s largest inland delta
Where Okavango River spreads out into the Kalahari desert in Botswana

2. Geography 3 distinct regions: Permanent swamp Seasonal floodplains
Occasional floodplains

3. 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 km away
Flood waters arrive during dry season due to low gradient of river
Water surface expands from 2500 km2 in February up to km2 in August
Many smaller islands are termite mounds

4. 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

5. Animal Life
Cheetah, African Wild Dog, Lilac Breasted Roller, Hippo, Nile Croc, Tigerfish, Malachite Kingfisher, African Elephant, Lechwe
Home to over 400 species of bird and 71 species of fish
Can also find giraffe, wildebeast, hyena, rhino, nile crocodile, zebras

6. Plant Life
Acacia, Reeds, Water lily, Sycamore Fig, Mokolwane Palm, Sausage Tree
Groundwater is very saline, so island plants (sage, grass) tend to be more salt-tolerant than those growing near the water

7. 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

8. References
Mitsch, W.J. & Gosselink, J.G. (2007). Wetlands (4th ed). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

9. Questions?