Benguela Current

Benguela Current Photos and Information

The Benguela current is comprised of cold water which flows from Point Agulhas in South Africa up the SW coast of Africa to Angola. As a result, the Benguela current has had a profound effect on the ecology and geography of South Africa and Namibia for 20 million years. See all Benguela current photos and info here in my travel posts listed below.

Namibia is rich in diamond deposits however the diamonds are not native to Namibia. The diamonds originate in the Kimberly region of South Africa and are washed to the west coast by the Orange river. Then it is the Benguela current that carries the diamonds to Namibia and deposits them there. Additionally, they are further refined during transportation which increases the quality. My Benguela current photos and info include photos of the mining ghost town Kolmanskop near Luderitz, Namibia.

Another more profound effect of the Benguela current is the weather inversion it creates on the Namibia and South Africa coastlines. As a result, in Namibia it has created intense desert climate conditions that have lasted for 20 million years. In certain places of the Namib desert it has not rained for 20 years. View Benguela current photos of Namib desertification here.

The Benguela current also provides nutrient rich waters that flow from Antarctica up the coast of Namibia. This results in a rich fishing industry in Namibia. Additionally, the fish bring the cape fur seals which brings the great white sharks. See Belguela current photos from Cape Cross Seal Reserve here.