The Namib — Oldest Desert on Earth
The Namib is the oldest desert in the world, at least 55 to 80 million years old — it existed when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. It stretches over 2,000 km along the Atlantic coast and extends 50 to 200 km inland.
What makes the Namib so unique:
- Sand dunes: In the Sossusvlei area, the world's highest sand dunes rise over 300 meters. The orange-red color is due to iron oxide, which has oxidized over millions of years — the redder the sand, the older it is
- Fog: The cold Benguela Current generates dense coastal fog on 60–200 days a year, reaching up to 100 km inland. This fog is the lifeline for countless specialized organisms
- Fairy circles: The mysterious circular bare patches in the grass of the Namib fringe zone — 2–15 meters in diameter, perfectly regular. The cause has been debated for decades: termites? plant communication? water competition? A definitive answer is still lacking
- Living Desert: Despite extreme aridity, the Namib is full of life — beetles that drink fog, transparent geckos, sidewinder snakes, and the famous Tok-Tokkie beetles
