Vlei
The word Vlei ([fləi]; Afrikaans for pan or sink , English Pan ) is a common geographical name in Namibia and South Africa for an end pan of a river . Sossusvlei , the end pan of the Tsauchab , and the Etosha pan are well-known examples of a vleis. These are salt plains in a depression .
In general, the vleis have different sizes and they only contain water periodically, depending on the rainfall or seasonal drought. In the wet season frogs spawn in pools or other swamp inhabitants breed in the vlei. The water contained can be fresh water, brackish water or salt water .
Basically, two conditions form the prerequisite for the formation of such vleis: an arid climate and an extremely flat terrain. The coincidence of only certain climatic and geomorphological circumstances are necessary for the formation of such structures. In large, flat, compacted soils in uncultivated depressions, these are already existing salt weathering and wind-based erosion or aeolian erosion . Salt weathering here requires the presence of unconsolidated Kalahari sediments or clay rocks from the Dwyka and Ecca groups . These clay stones are not very susceptible to erosion, but they are the source of the salts in the Vleis. It is primarily sodium sulfate , but in some cases sodium chloride and sodium hydrogen carbonate .
ecology
Vleis of different species are of considerable ecological importance, as they are mostly native but also transient species. Most of the Vleis are not given a lot of attention and therefore do not have a name. However, there are some significant vleis known by name, such as the aforementioned Sossusvlei, Deadvlei , Rondevlei, which is home to hippos , and Zeekoevlei.
The Afrikaans word Vlei is the namesake of various biological names such as
etymology
The word Vlei is mainly used in southern Africa . It comes from the Middle Dutch word valeye . In Afrikaans the word got the meaning of a shallow lake or pan.
Individual evidence
- ↑ See Spektrum.de: LEXIKON DER GEOGRAPHIE Retrieved on June 1, 2018
- ↑ George McCall Theal: Compendium of South African history and geography. Edition: 3 - 1877, 9
- ^ Nick Norman, Gavin Whitefield: Geological Journeys . Struik Publishers , Cape Town 2006 ISBN 1-77007-062-1 p. 237.
- ^ René A. Pelletier: Mineral Resources of South-Central Africa . Oxford University Press , Cape Town / London / New York / Toronto 1964, p. 131.
- ^ AW Rogers, AL Hall, PA Wagner, SH Haughton: The Union of South Africa. Handbook of Regional Geology. VII. Vol. Section 7a . Carl Winter , Heidelberg 1929, p. 8.
- ↑ a b Google Maps: Rondevlei
- ↑ See: Merriam Webster Retrieved June 1, 2018