Kaukausib-River[1] in German called Kaukausib-Mulde[2] is a rivier (dry river)[3] within the Diamond Restricted Area also called Sperrgebiet in the south of Namibia.[4] The Kaukausib-Rivier extends through the Namib from south to north-north-west. It ends in the Namib Desert without reaching the Atlantic, or any other river.[5] At the upper end of the Kaukausib Rivier there is a spring, which carries water throughout the whole year and is a drinking trough for various animals, especially for Oryx and Ostrich. The Kaukausib-spring is located 62 km southeast of Lüderitz and 40 km east of the Atlantic coast on 375 m above sea level (1235 ft).

Kaukausib
Aerial view of Kaukausib source (2016)
Map
Location
Country Namibia
RegionKaras
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationKaukausus source
 • coordinates26°59′15″S 15°38′58″E / 26.987512°S 15.649336°E / -26.987512; 15.649336
Aerial view over Kaukausib spring in the Diamond Restricted Area

In early days, on the march from Lüderitzbucht to Aus oxen were watered at the Kaukausib-well. The Germans write:

... und bald darauf war die Wasserstelle Kaukausib erfüllt von Lärm und Staub, von Gestampf und Ochsengebrüll.

— Meno Holst, Lüderitz erkämpft Südwest S.118 (1941)

In English it means:

... and soon the watering place Kaukausib was filled with noise and dust, with stamping and oxen bellowing.

— Meno Holst, Lüderitz erkämpft Südwest Page:118 (1941)

The book Diamonds in the Desert[6] describes, how August Stauch established a company in the beginning of the 20th century called Kaukausibtal Diamantengesellschaft.

Kaukausib catchment[7]

Pictures

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Pictures of Kaukausib  

References

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  1. ^ Kaukausib Rivier auf GetaMap.net
  2. ^ Kaukausib-Mulde
  3. ^ See German Page Rivier which in a local language means Dry-River.
  4. ^ Namibia Travel Map. Kunth-Verlag, München 2017, ISBN 978-3-95504-578-4.
  5. ^ Mapping the Major Catchments of Namibia. Ben J. Strohbach, National Botanical Research Institute, pp 5–6.
  6. ^ Olga Levinson: Diamonds in the Desert. 2. Auflage, Kuiseb Verlag, Windhoek 2009, ISBN 978-99916-40-85-3.
  7. ^ Field report Anib and Arasab pan – southern Namib Desert 27.-31.10.2019, Dr. Henselowsky Felix, University Heidelberg