The metasedimentary rocks and granites of the Damara Orogen - a fold belt which extends across northern Namibia between the ancient landmasses of the Congo and Kalahari Cratons - illustrate the immense forces that over millions of years shaped the face of planet Earth. According to the theory of plate tectonics, the crust, which represents the uppermost layer of the Earth’s inner structure, consists of thick lithospheric plates "swimming" on the liquid mantle. If two plates - together with the continents riding on them - move away from each other, molten rock from the interior erupts onto the surface, while sediments from the erosion of continents accumulate in the resulting rift; if the movement is reversed, plates collide and the sediments deposited in the rifts or grabens are deformed into mighty mountain ranges under enormous temperatures and pressures. At the same time rocks within the tortured crust are being molten and the resultant liquid magma ascends to be emplaced again at higher levels as granitic intrusions. In this dramatic manner the Damara Orogen originated - a process which from the early rifting stage up to continental collision lasted about 300 million years (~850 to 550 m. y.). Younger examples are the Alps of Europe and the Rocky Mountains of North America.