The tree graveyard in Namibia

Deadvlei Namibia
We want to start the week by moving to one of the most incredible corners of the planet, a graveyard of trees that have been preserved for thousands of years. Yes! Yes! Just as you are legends! We are referring to Dead Vlei , an enigmatic place that is located in the Namib-Naukluft Park of Namibia, or what is the same, which is considered the largest conservation area in the entire African continent. And we are talking about 50,000 square kilometers of extension where the highest dunes on the planet are found.

This park is located in the Namib Desert , considered the oldest desert in the world, since it existed in the Tertiary Era, a period in which the dinosaurs became extinct. Do you want to know more about this spooky place? Well then, do not miss anything that we tell you below!

The meaning of Dead Vlei

Before explaining all the details about this spectacular tree cemetery, we want you to know the meaning of its name. If you have notions of English, you already know that "dead" means "dead" but what do you think "vleid" means? The truth is, it doesn’t take much thought to figure out what it might mean. And it is that in Afrikaans this word means "swamp" or "lake". Of course, we must bear in mind that in Africa this place is known by Dooie Vlei , which means the same thing.

Deadvlei Namibia1

A tremendously beautiful but dramatic place

As you can see for yourself in the images that we offer you in our gallery, Dead Vlei draws attention to the presence of the petrified trees that, apparently, populated the area thousands of years ago, although they died some 900 years ago. The curious thing is that these specimens, belonging to the acacia erioloba species, also known as “camel thorn” or “giraffe thorn”, have maintained their shape due to the extreme dryness of the place, which makes decomposition impossible. Of course, they have acquired a blackish tone due to the rays of the sun they receive. The result is a really beautiful but very dramatic and spooky place.

Deadvlei Namibia2

The environment

In addition to finding petrified trees, in Dead Vlei you can find dunes formed by red sand and a sandy clay surface of reddish tones due to the iron oxide present in the area. Logically, it is very difficult to find plant life. And just 55 kilometers away a river runs dry. It is about the Tsauchab . It is also important to note that this tree graveyard is surrounded by the highest dunes on the planet. And it is that they measure from 300 to 400 meters high. Therefore, it is not surprising that this place has served as a setting for filming some films.

Deadvlei Namibia3

The desertification of the area

Although at the moment it is hard to believe, the truth is that torrential rains took place in this corner of the planet, which caused the Tsauchab river to flood and form lakes and lagoons, and, as a consequence, the environment was filled with vegetation. However, the climate changed drastically, causing the desertification of the place and making any form of life impossible. In fact, Dead Vlei is like a kind of very hot, dry pressure cooker where it hardly ever rains and has some of the highest temperatures on the planet.

Deadvlei Namibia4
Then we leave you with our gallery , where you will find more images of this incredible place located in Namibia. Without a doubt, it is an essential visit if you ever have the opportunity to travel to Namibia.