Lake Nsanwe
By SINVULA Mbala 200233921
Nsanzwe, meaning "shrubs" in English is a large lake situated in approximately 65 kilometers east from Katima Mulilo, within the Caprivi Region, Namibia. It is found within the flood plains. There is a large island towards the end of the lake making very interesting fishing and camping. The lake level is approximately 1200 meters above sea level (MSL). The lake is roughly oval in shape with trees around it, and has a surface area of approximately 500 square km. Lake Nsanzwe is considered a deep lake, with an average depth of 350 meters. The surface layer of Lake Nsanzwe deepens during the early months of the year (January to February), when the flood starts. The lake is renowned for its high water clarity.
The dominant tree here is the remarkably adaptable mopane (Colophospermum mopane), which is sometimes known as the butterfly tree because of the shape of its leaves. It is very tolerant of poorly drained or alkaline soils and those with a high clay content. This tolerance results in the mopane having a wide range of distribution throughout southern Africa; in Namibia it occurs mainly in the higher, slightly wetter areas including Etosha, the northern Kaokoveld, Caprivi and the Kalahari. Nsanzwe’s endangered species include wild dog, elephants, puku antelopes and many more. It is also a home for many bird species.
Reference: The Caprivi Region, whereby Lake Nsaswe is situated can be found on the following website:
<a href="http://www.maplandia.com/namibia/caprivi/" title="satellite maps of Caprivi"><img src="http://www.maplandia.com/images/icon.gif" width="88" height="31" border="0" alt="Caprivi google satellite maps"/></a>
