Namibia - Welwitschia Plains

The Welwitschia Plains are situated approximately 30 - 50 km inland from Swakopmund, roughly lying between the Swakopmund River and Khan River. They form part of the hyper-arid gravel plains of the Namib Desert. Most precipitation is in the form of fog, blowing in from the sea to the west. The most notable feature of this area is the presence of the highest concentration of Welwitschia mirahilis plants (Welwitschia) in Namibia. Not only is the Welwitschia endemic to the Namib Desert and semi-desert, it is also taxonomically very distinct, being the only representative in its family, and only one of three species in the order Gnetales. Welwitschia holds affinities with both flowering plants and gymnosperms, though the order Gnetales belongs to the gymnosperm (cone bearing) plants. Welwitschia and the other Gnetales are regarded as the most closely related extant plants to the flowering angiosperms. Some of the larger specimens (like those on the Plains) may be close to 2000 years old. On the central Namib gravel plains at the site, the Welwitschia plants are the dominant perennial vegetation.