Ai-Ais Hot Springs
Encyclopedia
Ai-Ais Hot Springs meaning 'burning water' in the local Nama language, refers to the sulphurous thermal hot water springs
found in the area. Pronounced "eye-ice", the natural hot-spring oasis
is situated at the base of the mountain peaks at the southern end of Fish River Canyon
, in the Karas Region of southern Namibia
and forms part of the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
.
shepherd rounding up stray sheep. The springs originate deep under the riverbed and form an oasis in the extremely arid
area.
During the Nama uprising of 1903–07
the hot spring was used by German military forces
as a base camp. In 1915, the area was also used as a base by South African troops who were recovering from wounds during the South-West Africa Campaign
. In 1962, the spring was leased to a local entrepreneur and were subsequently proclaimed a national monument
. In 1969, the springs became a conservation area
and on 16 March 1971, the camp was officially opened. The thermal water has an average temperature of about 60 °C. The water is piped to a series of indoor pools and jacuzzis.
Severe floods in 1972, 1974 and 1988 caused the camp to temporarily close. With the exception of one building—which was situated on higher ground—the 1972 flood totally destroyed the camp. The Fish River Canyon Conservation area was enlarged in 1987 by the addition of state land west of the canyon. Significant renovations to the Ai-Ais camp were carried out in 1987–88.
An international treaty, signed in 2003, incorporated the Ai–Ais Hot Springs and Richtersveld National Park in South Africa
, resulting in the establishment of the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park.
The springs are located approximately 200 km south of Keetmanshoop
or about 120 km west of Karasburg
.
and fluoride
, and are reputedly good for anyone suffering from rheumatism
. The resort waters are also home to a number of species of fish, including yellowfish
and barbel. Ai-Ais is closed over the summer from November to mid-March.
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
found in the area. Pronounced "eye-ice", the natural hot-spring oasis
Oasis
In geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
is situated at the base of the mountain peaks at the southern end of Fish River Canyon
Fish River Canyon
The Fish River Canyon is located in the south of Namibia. It is the second largest canyon in the world and the largest in Africa, as well as the second most visited tourist attraction in Namibia. It features a gigantic ravine, in total about long, up to 27 km wide and in places almost 550 metres...
, in the Karas Region of southern Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
and forms part of the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
The ǀAi-ǀAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park is a peace park straddling the border between South Africa and Namibia. It was formed in 2003 by combining the Namibian ǀAi-ǀAis Hot Springs Game Park and the South African Richtersveld National Park....
.
History
Local legend goes that the hot springs were discovered in 1850 by a nomadic NamaNamaqua
Nama are an African ethnic group of South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. They traditionally speak the Nama language of the Khoe-Kwadi language family, although many Nama now speak Afrikaans. The Nama are the largest group of the Khoikhoi people, most of whom have largely disappeared as a group,...
shepherd rounding up stray sheep. The springs originate deep under the riverbed and form an oasis in the extremely arid
Arid
A region is said to be arid when it is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or even preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life...
area.
During the Nama uprising of 1903–07
Herero and Namaqua Genocide
The Herero and Namaqua Genocide is considered to have been the first genocide of the 20th century. It took place between 1904 and 1907 in German South-West Africa , during the scramble for Africa...
the hot spring was used by German military forces
German colonial empire
The German colonial empire was an overseas domain formed in the late 19th century as part of the German Empire. Short-lived colonial efforts by individual German states had occurred in preceding centuries, but Imperial Germany's colonial efforts began in 1884...
as a base camp. In 1915, the area was also used as a base by South African troops who were recovering from wounds during the South-West Africa Campaign
South-West Africa Campaign
The South-West Africa Campaign was the conquest and occupation of German South West Africa, now called Namibia, by forces from the Union of South Africa acting on behalf of the British Imperial Government at the beginning of the First World War.-Background:...
. In 1962, the spring was leased to a local entrepreneur and were subsequently proclaimed a national monument
Monument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
. In 1969, the springs became a conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
and on 16 March 1971, the camp was officially opened. The thermal water has an average temperature of about 60 °C. The water is piped to a series of indoor pools and jacuzzis.
Severe floods in 1972, 1974 and 1988 caused the camp to temporarily close. With the exception of one building—which was situated on higher ground—the 1972 flood totally destroyed the camp. The Fish River Canyon Conservation area was enlarged in 1987 by the addition of state land west of the canyon. Significant renovations to the Ai-Ais camp were carried out in 1987–88.
An international treaty, signed in 2003, incorporated the Ai–Ais Hot Springs and Richtersveld National Park in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, resulting in the establishment of the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park.
The springs are located approximately 200 km south of Keetmanshoop
Keetmanshoop
Keetmanshoop is a city in Karas Region, southern Namibia, lying on the Trans-Namib Railway from Windhoek to Upington in South Africa. It is named after Johann Keetman, a German industrialist and founder of the city....
or about 120 km west of Karasburg
Karasburg
Karasburg is city of 4,000 inhabitants in the Karas Region of southern Namibia and the district capital of the Karasburg electoral constituency. It lies at the heart of the southern Namibian sheep farming industry.- Location :...
.
Present day
The springs are a popular holiday destination for Namibian, South African and international holiday-makers. The thermal waters are rich in sulphur, chlorideChloride
The chloride ion is formed when the element chlorine, a halogen, picks up one electron to form an anion Cl−. The salts of hydrochloric acid HCl contain chloride ions and can also be called chlorides. The chloride ion, and its salts such as sodium chloride, are very soluble in water...
and fluoride
Fluoride
Fluoride is the anion F−, the reduced form of fluorine when as an ion and when bonded to another element. Both organofluorine compounds and inorganic fluorine containing compounds are called fluorides. Fluoride, like other halides, is a monovalent ion . Its compounds often have properties that are...
, and are reputedly good for anyone suffering from rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
. The resort waters are also home to a number of species of fish, including yellowfish
Zambezi Yellowfish
The Zambezi yellowfish, Labeobarbus codringtonii, is commonly found throughout the Zambezi and Okavango Rivers in Southern Africa. They prefer fast flowing water over cobble and rocky bottoms where they predominantly feed on aquatic insects and crustaceans. Their exaggerated fins help them...
and barbel. Ai-Ais is closed over the summer from November to mid-March.