53480 Lake Ngami S E

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1 53480 Lake Ngami S E Lake Ngami has dried up and the spot is now a dust bowl. (David Le Roux) From: tracks4africa@googlegroups.com On Behalf Of Jean de Villiers Sent: 2008 June 04 20:16 Not making a "holy cow" out of scientific fact, but actually using it to confirm the stories. The following book by a seismologist confirms fairly serious seismic activity in the Okavango delta area: "Fieldwork - A Geologist's Memoir of the Kalahari" by CHRISTOPHER SCHOLZ (Princeton University Press).

2 A summary can be found on The tectonic plates' movement eventually link up to the Rift Valley fault. The existence of the swamps is based on previous seismic activity. Also (interesting) the people that propagate that water going to the swamps to be used, or water to be pumped from the swamps - could create serious seismic activity! I have attached a copy of chapter two of the book in MS Word format - makes for interesting reading! Keep well! Jean de Villiers >-----Original Message----- >From: tracks4africa@googlegroups.com On Behalf Of Zak >Sent: 2008 June 04 21:28 > > Hi guys, In Mike Main's BOOK ON Botswana (pg 133 onwards) he name the Savuti sand ridge as Magwikhwe sand ridge as "more than 100km long, it is an old barrier beach that may once have defined the western boundary of the great lake (Mababe depression). Beyond it, to the west, is a chaotic pattern of ancient sad dunes which may have been lagoons, mud flats lying beyond the ridge.... Trapped by an emerging rift valley, the Okavango bled its waters into vast accumulations of sand to create today's Delta. Condemned by a changing climate, which reduced rainfall and brought a return of almost desert-like conditions, the super-lake, cut off from its sources of water, dried up, leaving only the evidence in the shape of the Makgadikgadi pans Reminders of the great lake's existence is still abundant. Apart from the sand ridge, you will notice the nearly sheer north-eastern faces of the Gubatsha Hills. These were cut into cliffs be the crashing force of the waves which once pounded against them." He then explains some of the other mysteries such as the Savuti channel that last flowed in 1981 an I believe this season for the first time as per reports. It flowed between 1850 and 1880 but dried up until the 1950's when it started to flow again without explanation. Since then it flowed off and on several times which explains the dead trees in the channel. The most logical explanation is tectonic movement of plates which may tilt surfaces first ne way and then another. The above is similar to other books on the subject. The hippo stories et al sounds more the result of folklore trying to explain the unknown. Zak Original Message From: "Wouter Brand" <eiportne@mweb.co.za> To: <tracks4africa@googlegroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 04, :24 AM Willem, thanks for translating Jan, Paan.. Quote "to tell the story of Africa the way it is and the way it has become part of us" = The 4th Dimension.. and let's not make a holy cow of the scientific facts.. because a good story is a good story.

3 Question.. was it not during the same event (1978?) when the flow of the Nossob and the Molopo (S E ) into the Gariep river became obscured.? -----Original Message----- From: On Behalf Of Willem de Waal Sent: 2008 June 03 22:27 On the fly... : Hi Wouter I am not a historian, but the run of events with Ngami was conveyed to me as follows: Long ago there was indeed a lot of water, birds and hippos. Last mentioned was very important, because as elsewhere in the Okavango systems they tread deep paths in the marsh areas, which actually form a network of channels. When one flies over Moremi it can be clearly seen from the air. The British government banned Sir Seretsi Khama from Botswana (Betsuana land?), and he was housed in Great Britain. That was when Botswana was still a British colony. Botswana became independent after that, and Khama was elevated to a "Sir", and returned to his country to lead the government. While under British rule, the locals were not allowed to own firearms. Agriculture was such that the women worked the lands. Ngami's hippos spread wide destruction in the crops, and the women had to guard the lands during the night. The men simply had to control their urges (during the night). When Seretsi Khama returned and took over the government, the ban on firearms was lifted. Just like here, there was a hell of a lot of.303 rifles, and every "boer" got one. The "boere" at Ngami saw in it a way out of their dilemma, and simply started killing the hippos that were ruining their crops. Their wives came to lie with them again. With the disappearance of the hippos, the canal system also went, and eventually the whole seasonal lake had disappeared. A second event that could have contributed was the great earthquake of about The two crust platesof the east and west were moved, and created amongst others the "great sand ridge" between Savuti and Upington. If the above is not the truth, then at least it is a good story. Paan Walton says that one should not stuff let the truth stuff up a good story. I tend to believe the one with the hippos Original Message----- From: tracks4africa@googlegroups.com [mailto:tracks4africa@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jan van Graan Sent: 03 June :55 To: Tracks4Africa Subject: [T4A] Lake Ngami

4 Forum, sorry for the Afrikaans content. It is in response to a query from Wouter but a fail to reach his . It refers to the "changes in Bots" posting. Dag Wouter. Ek is nou nie 'n historikus nie, maar die verloop van sake met Ngami is as volg aan my oorgedra. Lank gelede was daar wel baie water, voëls en seekoeie. Lg. was baie belangrik want soos elders in die Okovango stelsel trap hulle diep paadjies in die moeras gebiede wat eintlik 'n netwerk "kanaaltjies" vorm. Indien mens oor Moremi vlieg sien jy dit baie duidelik uit die lug. Die Engelse (Britse regering) het vir Seretsi Khama (spelling?) uit Botswana (Betsuanaland?) verban en hy is in Britanje gehuisves. Dit was toe Bots nog 'n Britse kolonie was. Daarna het Bots onafhanklik geword en Kgama is deur die Engelse tot 'n "Sir" verhef en hy is terug na sy land om die regering te lei. Terwyl dit onder Britse regering was mog die plaaslike inwoners nie gewere besit nie. Landbou praktyk was so dat die vrouens in die lande gewerk het. Ngamie se seekoeie het egter erge "verwoesting" onder die gesaaides gepleeg en daarom moes die vrouens die lande in die nag oppas. Die mans moes willens en weetens daarmee saamleef en hul "lus" vir hulself hou. (gedurende die nagte). Toe Sir Seretsi Kgama terugkom en die regering oorneem, het hy die verbot op vuurwapens opgehef. Daar was net soos hier by ons 'n helse lot.303 gewere in die land en elke "boer" het dit aangeskaf of gekry. Die "boere" by Ngami het daarin 'n uitkoms vir hul dilemma gesien en net eenvoudig begin om die seekoeie wat hul lande geteister het vrek te skiet. Hul vrouens het weer by hul geslaap. Met die verdwyning van die seekoeie het die "kanaal stelsel" met die tyd verdwyn...en oor jare ook die hele seisoenale meer. 'n Tweede gebeurtenis wat daartoe kon bydrae is die groot aardbewing in ongeveer Lg. het die twee "aardkors plate" van die Ooste en die Weste laat skuif en onder andere die "Great sand ridge" veroorsaak tussen Savuti en Upington. As bogenoemde nie waar is nie, is dit ten minste 'n lekker storie. Paan Walton sê egter jy moenie 'n lekker storie met die waarheid bedonder nie. Ek glo nogal die een met die seekoeie. Groete. J.G. (Jan) van Graan From: tracks4africa@googlegroups.com On Behalf Of Peter Levey Sent: 2008 June 02 16:35 Subject: [T4A] Re: Botswana changes.. David le Roux

5 1) The Lake Ngami bird watching should be removed - it's almost like the two lions mating in road and does not mean it will be there next time. Lake Ngami's water is by no means guaranteed even in the wet season. 2) The warning must be removed - the road has been upgraded and there is no need for the warning. 3) Keep the trail in the Molopo marked, although I don't think it has ever had any formal naming as an 'Eco Trail'. Peter From: tracks4africa@googlegroups.com On Behalf Of David Le Roux Sent: 2008 June 02 12:58 Subject: [T4A] Botswana changes A few points that I noticed on my recent trip to Botswana and which can be considered for changing: 1) Berry Hill Farm at S E is actually called Berry BUSH farm 2) The spot marked "Spectacular bird watching" at S E is no more. Lake Ngami has dried up and the spot is now a dust bowl. 3) The warning at S E about a bad gravel road is not applicable at present, as the road has been graded and in a very good condition. 4) To desigate the B211 along the Molopo River as an Eco-Trail is probably not applicable anymore. The road is being rebuilt at present and will be a tarred road within the next 2 years. The South African side could still be an Eco-Trail, for those without a passport and a masochistic inclination, as it is seldom more than 100m from the tarred road-to-be and in poor condition. 5) The spot marked as "Squirrel Valley Campsite (Baobab campsite)" at S E at Tsodilo now has a No Camping sign on it. Better to change it to a picnic spot. David