Omaruru River

Omaruru River
Almost dried up bed of Omaruru River
Map
Native nameKhoekhoe: ǃKhuidiǁgams
Physical characteristics
SourceMount Etjo
 • locationOtjozondjupa Region
MouthAtlantic Ocean
 • location
north of Hentiesbay, Erongo Region
 • coordinates
22°05′S 14°14′E / 22.083°S 14.233°E / -22.083; 14.233
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Lengthc.330 km (210 mi)
Basin size13,100 km2 (5,100 sq mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftOtjimakuru, Goab, Spitzkop
 • rightLeeu, Okandjou
WaterbodiesOmdel Dam
Aerial view of Omaruru River (2018)

The Omaruru River is a major river crossing the Erongo Region of western central Namibia from East to West. It originates in the Etjo Mountains, crosses the town of Omaruru and the village of Okombahe, and reaches the sea a few kilometers north of Henties Bay.[1] Inflows of the Omaruru are Otjimakuru, Goab, Spitzkop, Leeu and Okandjou.[2]

The Omaruru is an ephemeral river with a mean run-off of roughly 40 million cubic metres per annum. Its palaeochannels form an underground delta of the Namib Desert.[1] Its catchment area (including its tributaries) is estimated to be between 11,579[3] and 13,100 square kilometres (5,100 sq mi).[2]

  1. ^ a b "ELECTIONS 2010: Erongo regional profile". New Era. 16 November 2010.
  2. ^ a b Jacobson, Peter J.; Jacobson, Kathryn M.; Seely, Mary K. (1995). Ephemeral rivers and their catchments: Sustaining people and development in western Namibia (PDF 8.7MB). Windhoek: Desert Research Foundation of Namibia. pp. 136–137. ISBN 9991670947.
  3. ^ Strohbach, B.J. (2008). "Mapping the Major Catchments of Namibia" (PDF 1.0MB). Agricola. 2008: 63–73. ISSN 1015-2334. OCLC 940637734.