Marienfluss
Namibia /
Kunene /
Opuwo /
World
/ Namibia
/ Kunene
/ Opuwo
World / Namibia / Kunene
The Marienfluss has more soft sand and is greener than Hartmann's Valley. It is covered with light scrub and the odd tree marks an underground river. A most noticeable feature of the Marienfluss is its 'fairy circles', although they are also found, to a lesser extent, in Hartmann's Valley. These are circular patches without any vegetation.
One theory suggests that Euphorbia bushes once grew here. It's thought that when they died, they may have left poisonous chemicals in the soil, which prohibit grass from growing. Another idea is that tropical termites may be blown into the Pro-Namib during wet cycles, starting colonies that kill the grasses. During the dry cycles, these die off leaving the bare circles that we see. A third theory suggests that there are 'hardpans' in these patches. That is, layers of soil through which water cannot penetrate, making plant life impossible. Of course, one other common explanation is that they were, indeed, made by fairies.
One theory suggests that Euphorbia bushes once grew here. It's thought that when they died, they may have left poisonous chemicals in the soil, which prohibit grass from growing. Another idea is that tropical termites may be blown into the Pro-Namib during wet cycles, starting colonies that kill the grasses. During the dry cycles, these die off leaving the bare circles that we see. A third theory suggests that there are 'hardpans' in these patches. That is, layers of soil through which water cannot penetrate, making plant life impossible. Of course, one other common explanation is that they were, indeed, made by fairies.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 17°19'34"S 12°25'19"E
- Omungwelume 341 km
- Ongenga 344 km
- Oshimwaku 348 km
- Omududu 348 km
- Turn off to Oshimwaku 349 km
- Doros Crater 426 km
- Uis 502 km
- Okombahe 545 km
- Eisenberg 549 km
- Kalkfeld 559 km
- Kunene River mining area 67 km
- mouth of the Cunene River 70 km
- Bosluis Bay 71 km
- Landing Strip 92 km
- Iona National Park 92 km
- Epupa Falls 95 km
- Shoal 96 km
- Baia dos Tigres 111 km
- MV Dunedin Star 129 km
- Opuwo Airport 172 km