May 2, 2022 - Barotse Floodplain

Follow @NASA_MODIS

Barotse Floodplain
Tweet
Share

The vast Barotse Floodplain sits in the upper Zambezi River Basin in
the Western Province of Zambia, South Africa. Spanning more than 2,123
square miles (5,500 square km), the large slightly undulating grassy
plains are inundated every year, thanks to the vigorous rainy season of
the region. The rains typically peak around January to February, but it
usually takes about three months for the rivers to overflow and
completely cover the basin with water. The flood usually peaks in April
and waters begin to withdraw from May to July, leaving behind enriched,
fertile soil that serves as feeding grounds for wild animals and birds,
as well as provides excellent agricultural land for the people who live
near the basin.

The ebb and flow of the river plays an important role in the life of
the Lozi people who have lived in the region for centuries. During the
dry season, the Lozi traditionally cultivate and live on large areas of
the floodplain. However, the Barotse Floodplain becomes uninhabitable
for humans during the floods. Each April, according to long tradition,
the Lozi people participate in the Kuomboka ceremony, celebrating the
moving of the king of the Lozi to from Lealui, his home in the Barotse
Floodplain to Limulunga, his home on higher ground. This movement is
accompanied by drums, traditional boats painted black and white and
adorned by a large elephant statue, colorful hats, and great fanfare.
The return trip to Lealui is usually in August, and that journey is
called the Kufuluhela. The Kuomboka ceremony was reinstated in April
2022, after a hiatus of three years—the first due to a dry year without
adequate flooding, then the next two due to the COVID pandemic.

On April 29, 2022, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
(MODIS) on board NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image on
April 29, 2022. The Barotse Floodplain is fully inundated at this time,
and the various rivers and tributaries of the region also appear quite
full.

Image Facts
Satellite: Aqua
Date Acquired: 4/29/2022
Resolutions: 1km (145.7 KB), 500m (406.1 KB), 250m (1.1 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC



https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2022-05-02

--- up 9 weeks, 21 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)