botswana/namibia - Cour international de Justice

372. The shape of the southern channel with the big meander loop at the eastern end is proof
of the absence of active erosion. Erosion would have taken place on the outside of this bend
of the meander which would have been cut through, yet the sequence of aerial photographs
from 1925 to 1985s shows the unaltered shape of this big meander loop in the southern
channel.
373. The meandering nature of the western sector of the southern channel is to be contrasted
with the broad straight course of the western and northern sectors of the northern channel. The
frequent necessity for changes of course of a boat navigating the southern channel was plotted
in the course of a circumnavigation of Kasikili/Sedudu Island made on 28 April 1997. The
circumnavigation of Kasikili/Sedudu Island was made on 28 April 1997, proceeding in a
clockwise direction from the westerly bifurcation point, by a 40 foot double-decker tourist
game-viewing boat. The boat proceeded at a uniform speed and, at 45 second intervals, being
spaced at a regular distance of approximately 100 m. apart; bearings with GPS(Global
Positioning System) were taken and visual descriptions recorded.
G20 - Photograph across Kasikili/Sedudu Island towards Kasika
374. In the space of 20 minutes, over an approximate distance of 2600 metres, travelling
through the western sector of the southern channel, with a reading of 255 W 285 300, the boat
swung at 45 second intervals from west (240 255 W 285 300), north-west, (285 300 Nw 030
), north (345 N 015 030 ), north-east (015 030 N 060 ); and then shifted back to north (345 N
015 030), north-west, (300 NW 330 345, 285 300 NW 330), west (255 W 285 300), southwest,
(SW 240 255 W, 210 SW 240 255), south, (S 195 210 SW). Continuing through another
loop in the southern channel the boat swung at approximately 90 second intervals south-west
(SW 240 255 W, 210 SW 240 255,) west, (240 255 W 285), south-west, (SW 240 255 W),
and finally north-west, (100 NW 330 345 N) to its entry-point to the Chobe River and the
main channel of the northern channel.
375. In the northern channel over roughly the same period of time (18 minutes,) and distance
(approximately 2600 metres) the boat, proceeding at the same speed maintained, through the
western sector of the northern channel, an unaltered course in a north easterly direction, (015
030 NE 060, with minimal variations to 045 030 NE 0, and N 145 NE 030 NE). Arriving at
the northern sector, after turning east-south-east, for some further nine minutes the boat
proceeded on an unaltered south-easterly tack (E 105 120 SE 150, E 105 120 SE 150), before
turning into the southern channel in a south-south-west direction, (S 195 210 SW 240 255).
II. The Location of Black Soil
376. The presence of black soil of basaltic origin is shown by the Sedimentological Report to
be distributed throughout the island and supports the wide distribution of such black soil with
no difference between the northern and southern channel. Ground photographs 1 and 2, on
Sheet 20 of Namibian Memorial, Vol.VI, part 2, show that both the Caprivi side of the river
and Kasikili/Sedudu itself contain dense black soil. Photographs should be treated with
caution as they do not necessarily enable the viewer to determine with any accuracy the
composition of the soil pictured. Basalts are widely spread throughout this part of Africa; they
form the Victoria Falls and the Mambova Rapids. When they decompose they form clays and
clay deposition favours a low energy lagoon environment. The turbulence that results from
water in motion quickly strips away any clay deposits. It is therefore difficult to see how the
occurrence of black clayey soil can be an indicator of flow in the southern channel. In any