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Popa Falls (Popa Rapids)

Popa Falls, Namibia
Popa Falls, Namibia / Hanspeter Baumeler, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

WorldBlue  In short

In the dry flatlands of the “panhandle” of Namibia – Caprivi Strip – is located an unexpected natural landmark – Popa Falls, a line of tall rapids (or it is a waterfall?) across the mighty Okavango River.

3.9 out of 10 stars 38.8%

GPS coordinates
18.1163 S 21.5825 E
Location, address
Africa, Namibia, Kavango, Okavango River between Divundu and Bagani
Alternate names
Popa Rapids
Height
2.5 – 4.5 m
Width
900 – 1 000 m
Average flow
Around 365 m3/s
Stream
Okavango (Kavango)

Map of the site

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WorldYellow In detail

Okavango – unusual inland river

The 1600 km long Okavango river starts deep in Angola, in Benguela Highlands. Here it receives lots of water and gushes towards the south – Kalahari Desert. On its way, the stream crosses a narrow strip of Namibia and then enters Botswana. Here Okavango extends, divides into numerous smaller streams, and… disappears in the sands of Kalahari Desert. This is not because Okavango does not have much water… no! The mighty stream brings hundreds of cubic meters every second and it creates an extensive wetland in the Kalahari Desert, where countless animals, birds, and plants thrive.

Description of Popa Falls

In the Caprivi Strip, Okavango crosses an extensive sill of quartzite. Already at Andara village, the river divides into countless smaller channels in order to cross a low threshold but the most impressive fall is the last: Popa Falls.

From air Popa Falls look like an unusual line across the river – above this line, the stream becomes wider and then, on this line, it splits into numerous smaller channels divided by many islands.

Popa Falls definitely is not a well-pronounced waterfall – it can be determined as rapids, although in many locations stream falls from cliffs. Falls are higher at low water, around September – January. Then the total height reaches some 4.5 m, while at high water part of falls disappear and height difference decreases to some 2.5 m.

This is wide waterfall (or rapids) – around 900 – 1000 m wide. Also, the medium discharge of the river is significant: 365 mm3/s, while at the dry season – around 160 m3/s.

Popa Falls, Namibia
Popa Falls, Namibia / Dr. Thomas Wagner, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Rich life

Water quality in the Okavango River is very high and numerous interesting aquatic species live here, including some very rare and possibly endemic species. Also above the water, the vegetation and animal life are very rich. Along the river is riparian woodland – a strip of species-rich, lush tropical forest. This is one of the few true tropical forests in Namibia.

This green patch of vegetation contrasts with the surrounding grey savanna. Nevertheless, Popa Falls is just a start of a much more impressive show of life – further downstream starts Okavango Delta. Nature here is protected: below the falls in Namibia is Bwabwata National Park.

Hydropower Project

Namibia depends on energy import and in the early 2000ies was proposed a project to improve this situation: Popa Falls Hydropower Project. It envisaged the construction of a weir across the river before the falls and the production of energy through the power of the stream without much change to river geography. The expected gain was some 20 MW of energy.

Nevertheless, local public rejected the proposal – there were too many risks for the local tourism industry and Okavango Delta. In 2014 this project was stopped. Well, most of the countries in the world need to learn a thing or two from Namibia!

References

  1. S. Bethune. Environmental Protection and Sustainable Management of the Okavango River Basin (EPSMO), EFA Basin Ecosystem Report. Accessed in 22 January, 2019.
  2. Divundu Hydro Power Project. Accessed in 22 January, 2019.

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Okavango: A Field Guide


After The South African Bushveld—A Field Guide from the Waterberg, this is the second comprehensive field guide to be published in southern Africa that covers a detailed cross-section of the most prominent animals, plants, birds, fish, insects, and tracks and signs of a particular region. It includes a detailed natural history section for a greater understanding of the geology, habitats, and ecology of the region.

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