Dead Vlei

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Dead vlei Nr. Sossusvlei, Namib Desert, Namibia.

Dead vlei is a clay pan surrounded by the highest sand dunes in the world, some reaching up to 300m, which rest on a sandstone terrace. The clay pan was formed after rainfall, when the river flooded, creating temporary shallow pools where the abundance of water allowed camel thorn trees to grow. When the climate changed, drought hit the area, and sand dunes encroached on the pan, which blocked the river from the area.

The trees died, as there was no longer enough water to survive. There are some species of plants remaining, such as "Salsola" and clumps of "!Nara", adapted to surviving off of the morning mist and very rare rainfall. The remaining “skeletons” of the trees, which are believed to be about 900 years old, are now black because the intense sun has scorched them. The wood does not decompose because it is so dry.

[edit] References

• Touring Sossusvlei and Sesriem. P & M Bridgeford