Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibiai

Regional Level Types
Kaokoveld Plateau	Plateau
Kunene Region	Region
Namibia	Country

The Kaokoveld Desert is a coastal desert of northern Namibia and southern Angola.

The Kaokoveld Desert occupies a coastal strip covering 45,700 square kilometers (17,600 sq mi), from 13° to 21°S and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Namibian savanna woodlands to the east, and the Namib Desert to the south. It includes the Moçâmedes Desert of southern Angola. The Kaokoveld is a harsh desert of drifting sand dunes and rocky mountains. It receives most of its rainfall during summer, which distinguishes it from the adjacent Namib Desert to the south, which receives most of its rain during winter. The Kunene River is the only permanent watercourse, but many dry riverbeds (including the Hoanib, Hoarusib and Khumib Rivers) carry moisture through the desert. Other than those the area is ancient desert sand, moistened by occasional coastal fog.

The Skeleton Coast National Park runs for 500 km along the coast of Namibia and is the main protected area in the region, along with other smaller conservancies inland. Much of the area was formerly protected under Game Reserve 2, which was reduced in size to become Etosha National Park in 1967, with a subsequent increase in poaching and more recently uncontrolled off-road driving. There is an area of sand dunes in Iona National Park in Angola.

This region has numerous small copper deposits within limestones of the Otavi group. Mostly mined for specimens of dioptase and other secondary copper minerals.

Localities in this Region

Other Regions, Features and Areas that Intersect

References