Hardap Dam

Description

First envisaged in 1897, Hardap Dam has a capacity of 320 e6m3 and a surface area of 25 km2. Construction began in 1960 and was completed in 1963.

The Hardap Dam supplies Mariental and the surrounding settlements with potable water. Its location close to the city, however, also poses a danger of flooding when sluices have to be opened fully due to good rains in the Fish River's catchment area. Reed grasses growing in the riverbed of the Fish River, slow down the flow of water and further aggravate the danger of flooding.

Before the dam was built, Mariental was flooded in 1923 and 1934. Floods after the commissioning of the dam occurred in 1972, 1974, 1976, 2000, and 2006. Since then, the dam's water level is kept at a maximum of 70% of its capacity to prevent both an overflow and an uncontrolled outflow through fully opened sluices.

Etymology

The name Hardap derives from the Nama word meaning "nipple" or "wart", which is how the surrounding area of low conical-shaped hills appeared to the early inhabitants. There are fishing spots at various points along the northern shore of the lake. Permits, and a map of permitted fishing areas, are available from the resort office, or from the magistrate's office in Mariental.

Flora and fauna

The area is home to the black rhino, There is also a large variety of bird species to be observed in and around the dam. Great White Pelican, cormorant, darter and spoonbill can be seen on the dam itself, as well as fish eagle and a small number of osprey.

The vegetation in the area is classified as dwarf shrub savanna. The following trees occur: camel thorn, wild green-hair tree and buffalo thorn.

Tourism

After a four-year period of renovation the dam's recreational sites have been reopened in 2016. Activities at the dam include swimming, fishing, and bird watching. There is a restaurant and a shop.

Gallery

File:HardapDamBirdView.jpg|The dam wall from above, 2016 File:Hardap Damm Schleuse.jpg|View of the dam gates from above File:South West Africa stamp Hardap Dam 1961.jpg|Postage stamp commemorating the construction of the dam, 1961 File:Steenbok Namibia.jpg|Animals at Hardap Dam: a Steenbok File:Procavia capensis.jpg|A cape hyrax File:Boscia foetida.jpg|Close-up of a Smelly Shepherd tree (Boscia foetida) File:Cercomela familiaris.jpg|Familiar Chat

References

References

1. "Hardap Resort". Namibian Wildlife Resorts.
2. Cloete, Luqman. (21 February 2017). "NamWater opens Hardap Dam sluices". [[The Namibian]].
3. "IDreamAfrica".
4. "Namibia 1on1: Mariental".
5. "NambiWeb".