Piketberg	Achab	Brandseberg

What is Namaqualand?

Namaqualand (nemä´kweland) or Namaland, is a winter rainfall desert located in north-western South Africa and southern Namibia (c. 500,000 sq km) (Cowling et al. 1999). Here we follow the definition of Cowling et al. (1999) which define Namaqualand in physiographical and biogeographical terms as the strongly winter-rainfall part of Southern Africas Succulent Karoo biome (Rutherford & Westfall 1986; Milton et al. 1997). This zone is now recognized as the Namqualand-Namib domain of the Succulent Karoo floristic region (Jürgens 1991).

	Location of Namaqualand showing delimitation of bioregions according to Hilton-Taylor (1996). Picture from Cowling et al (1999).

Climate

The Succulent Karoo Region- The Succulent Karoo has climatic characteristics that differ from all other deserts in the world (Desmet and Cowling 1999c). The climate is mild compared to other arid areas. The rainfall is reliable and predictable, falling mostly in winter, and prolonged droughts are rare. The mean lowest minimum temperature for the coldest month is above -4⁰C, while the same temperature index for the Namib Desert is above 2⁰C, and that for the Nama Karoo ranges from 0⁰C to -9⁰C (Rutherford 1997).  

The Namaqualand-Namib Domain - In the Namaqualand-Namib Domain frosts are extremely rare. This domain receives annual rainfall ranging from 20 mm in the drier northwest to more than 400 mm in the escarpment zone, but the majority receives less than 150 mm. The winter rains are associated with cold fronts. Precipitation is supplemented by heavy dewfalls and fog. Fog is generated by the cold Benguela Current of the Atlantic Ocean, and tempers summer heat in coastal parts of this domain.

	Vegetation in Namaqualand in autumn (march to may) and massflowering after the winter rain (august-october). Picture from Cowling and Pierce (1999).

Literature:

Desmet, P. G. & Cowling, R. M. 1999a. Biodiversity, habitat and range-size aspects of a flora from a winter rainfall desert in northwestern Namaqualand, South Africa. Plant Ecol. 142: 23–33.

Desmet, P.G. & Cowling, R.M. 1999b. The climate of the karoo – a functional approach. Pages 3-16 in W.R.J. Dean and S.J. Milton, editors. The Karoo: ecological patterns and processes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Desmet, P.G. & Cowling, R.M. 1999c. Biodiversity, habitat and range-size aspects of a flora from a winter rainfall desert in north-western Namaqualand, South Africa. Plant Ecology 142: 23-33.

Cowling & Pierce 1999. Namaqualand a Succulent Desert. Fernwood Press, South Africa. 

Cowling, R.M., Esler, K.J. & Rundel, P.W. 1999. Namaqualand, South Africa – an overview of a unique winter-rainfall desert ecosystem. Plant Ecology 142: 3–21.

Hilton-Taylor, C. 1987. Phytogeography and origins of the Karoo flora. Pp. 70–95. In: Cowling, R. M. & Roux, P. W. (eds), The Karoo biome: a preliminary synthesis. Part 2, Vegetation and history. South African National Scientific Programme Report 142.

Jürgens, N. 1991. A new approach to the Namib Region. I: Phytogeographic subdivision. Vegetatio 97: 21–38.

Milton, S. J., Yeaton, R. I., Dean, W. R. J. & Vlok, J. H. J. 1997. Succulent Karoo, Pp. 131–166. In: Cowling, R. M., Richardson, D. M. & Pierce, S. M. (eds), The Vegetation of Southern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Robinson, E. R. 1978. Phytogeography of the Namib Desert of South West Africa (Namibia) and its significance to discussions of the age and uniqueness of this desert. Palaeoecol. Africa 10: 67–74.

Rutherford, M.C. 1997. Categorization of Biomes. Pages 91-98 in R.M. Cowling, D.M. Richardson, and S.M. Pierce, editors. Vegetation of southern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Rutherford, M.C., &  Westfall, R.H. 1986. Biomes of southern Africa - an objective categorization. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 54: 1-98.

_{Andreas Jürgens}