Spitzkoppe
The Spitzkoppe is a group of bald granite peaks in the Namib Desert. It is often called the “Matterhorn of Namibia”. The height of the highest peak is about 700 meters (2,300 ft) above the flat desert floor.
More than 100 million years ago, by the collapse of a gigantic volcano, the granite massif was created and the subsequent erosion exposed the volcanic rock. Many bizarre rock formations and several San (Bushman) paintings are found in various places.
The peaks stand out dramatically from the flat surrounding plains. The highest peak is about 700 meters (2,300 ft) above the floor of the desert below. A minor peak – the Little Spitzkoppe – lies nearby at an elevation of 1,557 m (5,108 ft). Other prominences stretch out into a range known as the Pontok Mountains.
