- Swakop River
The Swakop River is a major river in the western part of
Namibia , reaching the sea at the southern edge of the city ofSwakopmund (German for "Mouth of the Swakop"). As a river that lies in one of the driest regions of the Earth, it is very seasonal and may dry up for long stretches of time. Groundwater levels in the area have also dropped about 0.3 m further due two big dams built in the Swakop River.Notwithstanding the river's irregular flow, some agriculture is undertaken in the Swakop River valley, thus the region is well known for its fresh produce, especially tomatoes, asparagus and olives. There are some fears of salt and uranium (possibly natural, possibly from the
Rössing Mine uranium mine) endangering this farming industry." [http://www.namibian.com.na/2005/June/national/05BECC679B.html Uranium in groundwater 'not serious': Roessing] " - The Namibian, Friday 24 June 2005] [cite web
url=http://www.rossing.com/erongo.htm
title="Rössing in the Erongo Region"
publisher=Rössing Uranium Limited
accessdate=2007-01-06 ]The area around the
river mouth and the surroundingdunes are also known for rich bird life and some unusual plant species (like theWelwitschia ) that use the regular fog drifting in from the sea to sustain themselves in the absence of other moisture.References
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