Arid Landscape Characteristics in the Kalahari Desert

The Kalahari Desert is a very unique semi-arid landscape, which serves as a great example for researching many patterns in arid landforms, hydrology, and vegetation.

One observation that can be seen in the Kalahari is the existence of Aeolian desert sand dunes, as well as sand sheets, and “pans”, or surfaces of the soil without any vegetation, hardened by soluble minerals left behind after evaporation. The Western Kalahari has many chains of longitudinal dunes. These can range between 20 to 200 feet high.

Sand Ripples.

Examples of the sand dunes seen in the Kalahari Desert. Note the major dune forms that stretch in chains, as well as the sand ripples on the surface of some dunes. 

Here's a fun video of people boarding down some of the red sand dunes of the Kalahari.

The hydrology of the Kalahari Desert is somewhat daunting, from a human perspective, in that there is very little water flow, as most of the rain that does fall is evaporated back into the air shortly after. When there is rainfall over non-sandy areas, some small ephemeral streams will form, but soon dry up, creating pans. This is an example of Areic drainage, because the streams do not make it to the coast.

Here's an example of an ephemeral stream in the Kalahari that appears to be dried up. The outlets of the stream don't lead anywhere, but rather fan out and then evaporate.

The above two images are examples of "pans" in the Kalahari landscape, the second one being a salt pan. The minerals left behind after the water has evaporated, makes the ground very hard and barren.

An up close image of the ground in a salt pan in the Kalahari.

Another video example of the terrain in the Kalahari, and further proof of how dry and cemented the soil can be. This is also a salt pan. 

Vegetation in the Kalahari is unlike that seen in most places, due to the fact that there is deep sand cover over most of the desert. There are some annuals, the shallow-rooted plants, which do not live for long, but can grow fast, and produce seeds for the next rainy season. Some trees grow, only if they have roots that are deep enough to obtain moisture from lower, wetter sand levels. Xerophytic, drought resistant, shrubs and grasses are found in the drier, low precipitation areas of the landscape. These Xerophytic plants show adaptations such as small hairs and insolation avoidance.

An example of the annual plant life, or the shallow-rooted plants. 

A lone tree stands on the Kalahari landscape, it's roots just deep enough to soak up ground moisture to survive in this location.

A beautiful picture of some of the Xerophytic shrubs and grasses in a sandy area.

Close up of a Xerophytic plant in the Kalahari, with adaptions like small hairs, and what appears to be thorns. 

The arid landscape of the Kalahari has had its impacts on the San People who live there, as there is very little water supply, forcing them to locate near wells and boreholes. However, the grazing of their cattle is largely unmanaged, and has deteriorated the vegetation cover, which has led to desertification and destruction on the ecology of the Kalahari.

San People of the Kalahari sit on a small sand dune. They have become experts when it comes to surviving in very low water environments. 

A San boy with cattle.

Cattle that the San People tend to. They are often unmanaged when it comes to grazing, and are much more destructive than they look. 

Interesting video on the starling impacts of desertification, and various solutions to help stop this issue, which is seen as a growing problem in the Kalahari.

References:

Pictures in Order:

http://www.atc-elite.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Travel-to-Kalahari-Desert-Slide-1.jpg

http://www.technocrazed.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Most-Beautiful-Photographs-To-Reveal-The-Beautiful-Namibian-Desert-1.jpg

http://www.caoping8.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/popular-landscaping-desert-landscape-coloring-pages-desert-landscape-materials-desert-landscape-mounds-desert-landscape-mulch-desert-landscape-murals-desert-landscape-magazine-desert-landscape-m.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/e0/21/a5/e021a5b1bb46ca261cd600bc42874405.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d6/fd/2c/d6fd2ca9d66cd0f13c2c03d6d602af05.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Sossusvlei.jpg

http://cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/84060387-makgadikgadi-salt-pans-kalahari-desert-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=cb5UftwgPchFKkJWNt7B9b0NVXb7rBcNaUMqyVrwJJlmBlfYDq9WJhbFOYGffcQO

http://cache3.asset-cache.net/gc/84060473-makgadikgadi-salt-pans-kalahari-desert-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=VSdvpIirn1KxAGCS%2FtAL97MYJvSHD9Hm9NqRRj1XZxNsKwjKc17NNL%2FQWXm%2B3tZx

http://www.kalaharidesert.net/images/Kalahari-Desert-Namibia1.jpg

http://www.kalaharidesert.net/images/Namibia-Kalahari-Desert.jpg

http://www.technocrazed.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Most-Beautiful-Photographs-To-Reveal-The-Beautiful-Namibian-Desert-110.jpg

http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/21bb744060334eeeb34c359d0f0a080b/nara-xerophytic-plant-flower-detail-acanthosicyos-horrida-in-the-sandy-d34ydg.jpg

http://thesanpeople-kalahari.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/5/8/22589122/9040533_orig.jpg

http://c8.alamy.com/comp/CYFEEH/a-boy-15-from-the-san-bushman-tribe-herding-cows-kalahari-desert-namibia-CYFEEH.jpg

http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/5caf76766d914cc88533ef31560de2bf/cows-and-cattle-on-sandy-pasture-kalahari-desert-namibia-cwm6eb.jpg

Research:

https://www.britannica.com/place/Kalahari-Desert

https://ucdenver.instructure.com/courses/342696/files/3966087?module_item_id=898895

Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqnZJTIFaLY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VjW_j46DVg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYGo6X94kEU