Namib-Naukluft National Park, 19,216 sq mi (49,768 sq km), W Namibia, encompassing parts of the Namib Desert and the Naukluft mountain range. It was established in 1979 when the Namib Desert Park (begun as a game reserve in 1907) and Naukluft Park were merged. Noted for its massive, burnt orange sand dunes, towering mountain ranges, flat gravel plains, and verdant ravines, it is one of Africa's largest conservation areas. In spite of its aridity, the area is home to numerous plant, animal, and bird species, including euphorbia, acacia, aloe, and wild olive and fig plants and zebras, oryx, steenboks, and warthogs.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: African Physical Geography