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Shape of
the Land
North-central Namibia is
part of the Owambo Basin, an ancient depression filled with sediments
and surrounded by a rim of hills in the south and west. The deepest
sediments were deposited when the region first formed part of a rift
valley and, later, when it lay in a shallow sea. Subsequently, large
rivers and strong winds carried in more sediments. Long periods of
flooding, sand deposition and reworking of the deposits produced the
mixture of soils that forms the basis of the region. These processes
also did much to fashion six, distinct landscapes. The known mineral
resources are limited, and even those in the Tsumeb area now have
limited value. Pollution caused by the mine and smelter at Tsumeb still
needs to be cleaned up.
Illustrations:
To view the illustration in
more detail, click on the thumbnail.
 Owambo
basin (137 KB)
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 Geological
history of north-central region (201 KB)
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 Schematic
cross section from Ruacana to Tsumeb showing the succession of
geological deposits
(153 KB)
download jpg image
 The
region is divided into six landscapes
(205 KB)
download
jpg image
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