Dead Vlei
Encyclopedia
Deadvlei is a white clay pan
located near the more famous salt pan of Sossusvlei
, inside the Namib-Naukluft Park in Namibia
. Also written DeadVlei or Dead Vlei, its name means "dead marsh" (from English dead, and Afrikaans vlei
, a lake or marsh in a valley between the dunes). The pan also is referred to as "Dooie Vlei" which is the (presumably original) fully Afrikaans name. In Google there are many references to the site, its name often being translated erroneously in terms such as "dead valley"; a vlei
is not a valley (which in Afrikaans is "vallei"). Nor is the site a valley; the pan is a desiccated vlei.
Dead Vlei has been claimed to be surrounded by the highest sand dune
s in the world, the highest reaching 300-400 meters (350m on average, named "Big Daddy" or "Crazy Dune"), which rest on a sandstone
terrace. However, the Wikipedia article on dune
s contradicts this claim; firstly, there is room for debate on the criteria, such as whether there are higher individual dunes (the article lists at least three higher than "Big Daddy") or whether there are higher "average highest area" dunes elsewhere (the dune article lists one possibly higher area in Africa.)
The clay pan was formed after rainfall, when the Tsauchab
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 no longer was enough water to survive. There are some species of plants remaining, such as salsola
and clumps of !nara, adapted to surviving off 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. Though not petrified
, the wood does not decompose because it is so dry.2008
Bollywood
Blockbuster
Ghajini
was shot here.
Claypan
In geology, a claypan is a dense, compact, slowly permeable layer in the subsoil having a much higher clay content than the overlying material, from which it is separated by a sharply defined boundary. Claypans are usually hard when dry, and plastic and sticky when wet. They limit or slow the...
located near the more famous salt pan of Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes, located in the southern part of the Namib Desert, in the Namib-Naukluft National Park of Namibia...
, inside the Namib-Naukluft Park in 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...
. Also written DeadVlei or Dead Vlei, its name means "dead marsh" (from English dead, and Afrikaans vlei
Vlei
The word vlei is used predominantly in South Africa. In most instances a vlei is a shallow minor lake of a seasonal or intermittent nature. It even might refer to seasonal ponds or marshy patches where frogs and similar marsh dwellers breed, but too minor to be granted recognition in the form of a...
, a lake or marsh in a valley between the dunes). The pan also is referred to as "Dooie Vlei" which is the (presumably original) fully Afrikaans name. In Google there are many references to the site, its name often being translated erroneously in terms such as "dead valley"; a vlei
Vlei
The word vlei is used predominantly in South Africa. In most instances a vlei is a shallow minor lake of a seasonal or intermittent nature. It even might refer to seasonal ponds or marshy patches where frogs and similar marsh dwellers breed, but too minor to be granted recognition in the form of a...
is not a valley (which in Afrikaans is "vallei"). Nor is the site a valley; the pan is a desiccated vlei.
Dead Vlei has been claimed to be surrounded by the highest sand dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
s in the world, the highest reaching 300-400 meters (350m on average, named "Big Daddy" or "Crazy Dune"), which rest on a sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
terrace. However, the Wikipedia article on dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
s contradicts this claim; firstly, there is room for debate on the criteria, such as whether there are higher individual dunes (the article lists at least three higher than "Big Daddy") or whether there are higher "average highest area" dunes elsewhere (the dune article lists one possibly higher area in Africa.)
The clay pan was formed after rainfall, when the Tsauchab
Tsauchab
The Tsauchab is an ephemeral stream in Namibia, in the southern Naukluft Mountains. It is approximately long, and known especially for the portion in which it flows through the Sesriem Canyon....
river flooded, creating temporary shallow pools where the abundance of water allowed camel thorn trees
Acacia erioloba
Acacia erioloba is also commonly known as the Camel Thorn, Kameeldoring , Giraffe Thorn or Mokala . The Mokala National Park in the Northern Cape is named after this tree. The type specimen of Acacia giraffae, proved on closer examination to be a hybrid of A. haematoxylon and the species which...
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 no longer was enough water to survive. There are some species of plants remaining, such as salsola
Salsola
Salsola is a genus of the subfamily Salsoloideae in the family Amaranthaceae. A common name of various members of this genus is saltwort, for its salt tolerance.-Description:...
and clumps of !nara, adapted to surviving off the morning mist
Mist
Mist is a phenomenon of small droplets suspended in air. It can occur as part of natural weather or volcanic activity, and is common in cold air above warmer water, in exhaled air in the cold, and in a steam room of a sauna. It can also be created artificially with aerosol canisters if the...
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. Though not petrified
Petrified wood
Petrified wood is the name given to a special type of fossilized remains of terrestrial vegetation. It is the result of a tree having turned completely into stone by the process of permineralization...
, the wood does not decompose because it is so dry.2008
Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
Blockbuster
Blockbuster
Blockbuster may refer to:* Blockbuster , a very successful movie, theatrical play, etc.* Blockbusters * Blockbusters * Blockbuster , by Tom Shone* Blockbuster LLC, a video and game rental chain...
Ghajini
Ghajini
Ghajini is a 2005 Tamil psychological thriller film directed by A. R. Murugadoss released on October 14, 2005. The film stars Suriya, Asin, Nayantara, Pradeep Rawat and Riyaz Khan. It was dubbed and released in Telugu by Allu Aravind in November 2005, and both versions enjoyed critical and...
was shot here.