Fairy Circle (Africa)

Fairy circles are circular barren patches of land, typically found in the grasslands of the western part of Southern Africa. Their size varies between 2 and 15 meters in diameter. The phenomenon has not yet been fully explained despite 25 years of research.

They are most prolific in Namibia, but are also present in Angola and South Africa. These fairy circles consist of round areas barren of vegetation amidst monospecific grassy vegetation (in Namibia of the genus Stipagrostis). As yet there is no clear picture as to how they are formed, although scientists are researching the matter.

One theory suggests the termite species Baucaliotermes hainsei and Psammotermes allocerus as the creator of these circles. All rings have been found to contain termite casts, and radar investigations suggest that a moister layer of soil is situated beneath the fairy circles. Recent studies have stated that there is no evidence termites would cause this phenomenon.

In the oral myths of the Himba people these barren patches are said to have been caused by the gods, spirits and/or natural divinities. The region's bushmen have traditionally ascribed spiritual and magical powers to them.

Studies done by South African scientists shows that these circles are under continuous development. They grow, ranging from 2 to 12 meters in diameter, where they mature and "die", filled in by invasive grasses.

The circles are to be found about 100 miles inland, in a band stretching 1,500 miles south from Angola. The territory is among the most remote and inhospitable on the planet, which may explain why so little scientific research has been done on the rings. These circles are not moving and after 22 years they have remained in the same spot. During these studies they have come up with a possible explanation to why these fairy circles are appearing; researchers have found out that there is a possible toxin left by poisonous plants that has caused the plant seed destruction. But experiments conducted thus far have failed to produce any evidence that supports this hypothesis.