A group of hippos at sunset in Botswanas Okavango delta. Hippos are truly ecosystem engineers! They change and even create the land in and around this wetland flushed yearly by nearly 11 cubic kilometers of water. They do this by moving huge amounts of soil around with their sheer size. They create channels in the water and paths on land that redirect water. This also creates habitat and shelter for other species. Hippos also play an important role in this delta, and elsewhere, by fertilizing the water. By eating on land and eutrofying the water, they bring nutrients to rivers and lakes that wouldn’t otherwise be there, helping enrich Okavango's plant and animal life. A healthy delta provides numerous ecosystem services for mankind. #botswana#delta#africa#ecosystem#engineer#gfx100s#beauty#power@natgeo@irisalexandrov@alexandrovklumofficial