Green water
A round basin mirroring the clouds.
Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Otjikoto is the smaller of Namibia's only two permanent natural lakes, about 20 km northwest of Tsumeb and just 100 m from the main road. It is a sinkhole created by a collapsing karst cave, and it was declared a national monument in 1972. Its diameter is 102 m, but its depth is disputed, with sources giving 62 to 100 m and some estimating over 142 m because it tapers into a side cave system. The San knew it as Gaisis, meaning ugly, and the Herero named it Otjikoto, deep hole. The first Europeans to visit were Francis Galton and Carl Johan Andersson in 1851. In June 1915 German troops dumped war materials in the water, and most of the larger pieces were recovered and shown in the Tsumeb Museum, while the tale of a safe full of gold remains an unproven legend. You see a round basin with pale rock walls and dark green water mirroring the clouds, with trees and thorny plants around the rim. A sign nearby explains the steam engine and pumps that sent the lake's water to Tsumeb from 1907. Cichlid fish live in the lake. The lake lies about 18.5 km from the Tsumeb Museum and 59.8 km from the Hoba Meteorite in a straight line, and it makes a short stop on the way to Etosha. Diving is possible only with a special permit. The rim is high, so keep children close and stay out of the water.
A round basin mirroring the clouds.
Pale stone around the lake.
An old link to Tsumeb's water supply.
Northwest of Tsumeb, by the main road, Namibia
There is no agreed figure. Sources give 62 to 100 m, and some estimate over 142 m.
It is not advised. Diving needs a special permit, and the rims are high.