clipped from: www.topix.com   

Okavango Delta Flooding!

The Okavango Delta in Northern Botswana is flooding and the flow rates continue to rise. A strong annual flood is peaking into a very strong flood.

The annual flooding of the Okavango Delta produces one of the world's great inland waterways. The large wetlands on the edges of the Kalahari Desert are a marvel of nature. The floods start in the highlands of Angola and take from three to six months to reach all areas of the Okavango Delta.

You can visit the Maun, Botswana Blog for more information on the flood. The Flood Chart shows some of the strongest floods in the last 30 years. The flood started in January at a very high flow rate - in the area of 400 cubic metres per second. Measuring is done at Mohembo Ferry Crossing, outside Shakawe - in the very north of Botswana.

Until two weeks ago the high flow rates looked like this years food would be strong. Two weeks age the flood started to peak and flow rates increase by 200 cubes per second. A new flood reading is due out next week.

Because the Okavango Delta is so flat, there is the serious possibility of wide spread flooding. Many of the lodges and their airstrips could go under water. Communities and families may have to be evacuated and water treatment plants protected.