Otjikoto Lake is the smaller of only two permanent natural lakes in Namibia. It is a sinkhole lake that was created by a collapsing karst cave.[1] It is located 20 kilometres (12 mi) north-west of Tsumeb and only 100 meters from the main road B1. The lake was declared a national monument in 1972.[2]
The diameter of the lake is 102 metres (335 ft); its depth is supposedly more than 91.44 meters, according to scans. According to a Namibian tourism information organisation,[3] "the depth varies from sixty two meters at the side to one hundred meters in the center - and in some places leading off from the side - depths of one hundred meters have been recorded", while an article in the Allgemeine Zeitung[4] explains the depth problem: "the lake tapers into a lateral cave system making it impossible to determine its exact depth, estimated to be in access (sic) of 142 meters."
The lake was known to the San under the name Gaisis ("ugly"). When the Herero moved into the area, they named it Otjikoto (Otjiherero: "deep hole"). Namibia's Oshikoto Region, in which the lake is situated, is an alternative spelling of Otjikoto and derives its name from that of the lake.[5] The first Europeans to discover the lake were Francis Galton and Carl Johan Andersson, who during their search for Lake Ngami came upon Otjikoto Lake in 1851.[6]
The lake was a dumping ground for GermanSchutztruppe during World War I; in June 1915 German troops dumped war materials in the lake before surrendering to stop the South African and British troops from using them. Most of the larger pieces have been recovered and are displayed in the Tsumeb Museum, but at least two cannons, along with quantities of ammunition, are still in the lake[7] and can be viewed with a special diving permit. According to legend, the Germans also dumped a sealed safe into the lake. The search for it and the 6 million gold marks it is said to contain has as yet not been successful.[6][8]
Botanist Kurt Dinter visited the lake in 1911 and collected several hitherto unknown species of plants, among them grass of the genus Rottboellia.[2]Tilapia guinasana, a species of cichlid fish which naturally was only found in Otjikoto's sister lake, Lake Guinas, was introduced to Otjikoto Lake.[9] The claim that Lake Guinas is connected to Lake Otjikoto by caves is frequently made but not proven as yet.[1]
The entire lake
Referencesedit
^ abcIrish, John (1991). . Madoqua. 17 (2): 141–146. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
^ abVoigt, Andreas (2004). National Monuments in Namibia: An Inventory of Proclaimed National Monuments in the Republic of Namibia. Gamsberg Macmillan. pp. 24–25. ISBN9991605932.
^"Lake Otjikoto A Window Into The Past". namibia-1on1.com. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
^Springer, Marc (2009-05-27). "Descending into another world: Cave diving in Namibia". Allgemeine Zeitung. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
^Heita, Desie (13 November 2015). "Oshikoto scores big in development budget". New Era.
^ ab"Otjikoto Lake & Lake Guinas". tourbrief.com. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
^Monty Halls and the Kaiser's Gold, Channel 5 (UK), 25 Nov 2013
^Tilapia guinasana The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Tilapia guinasana
External linksedit
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December 15, 2023
otjikoto, lake, smaller, only, permanent, natural, lakes, namibia, sinkhole, lake, that, created, collapsing, karst, cave, located, kilometres, north, west, tsumeb, only, meters, from, main, road, lake, declared, national, monument, 1972, coordinates19, 19472,. Otjikoto Lake is the smaller of only two permanent natural lakes in Namibia It is a sinkhole lake that was created by a collapsing karst cave 1 It is located 20 kilometres 12 mi north west of Tsumeb and only 100 meters from the main road B1 The lake was declared a national monument in 1972 2 Otjikoto LakeOtjikoto LakeCoordinates19 11 41 S 17 32 59 E 19 19472 S 17 54972 E 19 19472 17 54972Basin countriesNamibiaSurface area0 51 hectares 1 3 acres 1 Average depth45 metres 148 ft Max depth91 metres 299 ft Water volume229 500 cubic metres 8 100 000 cu ft The diameter of the lake is 102 metres 335 ft its depth is supposedly more than 91 44 meters according to scans According to a Namibian tourism information organisation 3 the depth varies from sixty two meters at the side to one hundred meters in the center and in some places leading off from the side depths of one hundred meters have been recorded while an article in the Allgemeine Zeitung 4 explains the depth problem the lake tapers into a lateral cave system making it impossible to determine its exact depth estimated to be in access sic of 142 meters The lake was known to the San under the name Gaisis ugly When the Herero moved into the area they named it Otjikoto Otjiherero deep hole Namibia s Oshikoto Region in which the lake is situated is an alternative spelling of Otjikoto and derives its name from that of the lake 5 The first Europeans to discover the lake were Francis Galton and Carl Johan Andersson who during their search for Lake Ngami came upon Otjikoto Lake in 1851 6 The lake was a dumping ground for German Schutztruppe during World War I in June 1915 German troops dumped war materials in the lake before surrendering to stop the South African and British troops from using them Most of the larger pieces have been recovered and are displayed in the Tsumeb Museum but at least two cannons along with quantities of ammunition are still in the lake 7 and can be viewed with a special diving permit According to legend the Germans also dumped a sealed safe into the lake The search for it and the 6 million gold marks it is said to contain has as yet not been successful 6 8 Botanist Kurt Dinter visited the lake in 1911 and collected several hitherto unknown species of plants among them grass of the genus Rottboellia 2 Tilapia guinasana a species of cichlid fish which naturally was only found in Otjikoto s sister lake Lake Guinas was introduced to Otjikoto Lake 9 The claim that Lake Guinas is connected to Lake Otjikoto by caves is frequently made but not proven as yet 1 The entire lakeReferences edit a b c Irish John 1991 Conservation aspects of karst waters in Namibia Madoqua 17 2 141 146 Archived from the original on 11 December 2013 Retrieved 30 November 2013 a b Voigt Andreas 2004 National Monuments in Namibia An Inventory of Proclaimed National Monuments in the Republic of Namibia Gamsberg Macmillan pp 24 25 ISBN 9991605932 Lake Otjikoto A Window Into The Past namibia 1on1 com Retrieved 2012 06 06 Springer Marc 2009 05 27 Descending into another world Cave diving in Namibia Allgemeine Zeitung Retrieved 2012 06 06 Heita Desie 13 November 2015 Oshikoto scores big in development budget New Era a b Otjikoto Lake amp Lake Guinas tourbrief com Retrieved 18 February 2011 Monty Halls and the Kaiser s Gold Channel 5 UK 25 Nov 2013 About Monty Tilapia guinasana The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Tilapia guinasanaExternal links editNamibia The Cardboard Box Travel shop Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Otjikoto Lake amp oldid 1187123127, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
