As I've traveled to and from Namibia over the last few years, I've always kept my nose pressed to the airplane windows to check out the amazing landscape beneath me. It's always fun to see my study system from a totally different perspective and sometimes I try to snap some photos of what I see. Eventually, I'd like to get my hands on a small plane and fly up the Skeleton Coast, over the northern dune fields, around the Gamsberg, and far down south in Namibia. Of course that requires having the money to afford renting an airplane and that's not something that's really in line with a grad student's budget. One day though! For some truly amazing photos of the Namib from the skies, check out Paul van Schalkwyk's website (but be honest, my photos below are pretty cool too, huh?).
Flying over the Namib Sand Sea (Walvis Bay --> Cape Town)
Geology of the Namib
Namibian geology isn't all about sand dunes. There are some amazing other features of the landscape that are worth checking out. So far, I've only seen a few from the air.
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Mining in the Namib
Mining makes up a significant part of the Namibian economy but also has some serious environmental effects related to the production of the mines and prospecting. Some of these effects can be seen from the air.
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