Kainji Lake

Kainji Lake

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Kainji Lake
image_lake =
caption_lake =
location = Western Nigeria
basin_countries= Nigeria
type =
inflow = Niger River
outflow = Niger River
area = max. 1,243 km²
volume = 15 km³
depth =
max-depth = 12.1 m
elevation =
residence_time =
shore =
coords = coord|10|22|N|4|33|E|type:waterbody_region:NG|display=inline,title
cities =
islands =
reference =

Kainji Lake, in western Nigeria, is a reservoir on the Niger River, formed by the Kainji Dam. It was formed in 1968 and is a part of Niger State and Kebbi State. Kainji Lake National Park (KNLP), situated around the lake, is Nigeria's oldest National Park, established in 1976.

Dam

The Kainji Dam is situated in the south of Niger State and generates power for most towns in Nigeria. It was built from 1964 to 1968 and cost about 209 million dollars, a quarter of which was used to delocate the original population. Together with a smaller dam for a minor stream, it is 10 km long and 65 m high in the middle. It has a capacity of 12 turbines producing a total of 960 MW, but only 10 were installed, producing 800 MW. Part of the production is sold to the neighbouring country of Niger.

National Park

Kainji Lake National Park (KNLP) (headquarters Wawa) is situated 560 km north of Lagos, close to the border with the Republic of Benin. It comprises two sectors (Borgu and Zugurma) which are separated by Kainji Lake. Only the Borgu (western) sector is currently used for tourism; the Zugurma (eastern) sector lacks infrastructure, including access roads. The topography of the park is gently undulating with a general decrease in elevation from west to east. The Borgu sector is drained mainly by the Oli, Timo and Doro rivers and their tributaries, while the Zugurma sector is drained by the Maingyara and Nuwa Tizururu rivers. The vegetation of the park is typical of the Sudan-Guinea Savanna, although in some areas it appears more Sahelian. Riparian forests occur on the banks of the larger watercourses.

Conservation issues

Although the area around the park has a relatively low population density, numerous human activities adversely affect the park. These include deforestation, uncontrolled burning and illegal grazing and are particularly prevalent in the Zugurma sector. Wild mammals occur at relatively low densities due to illegal hunting. Lake Kainji has suffered a dramatic decline as a fishery due to the high numbers of artisanal and subsistence fisherfolk using the lake. It has been suggested that a period of closure, together with controlled fishing rights may help improve fish stocks.


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  • Kainji Lake — ▪ lake, Nigeria       reservoir on the Niger River, on the border between Niger and Kebbi states, in western Nigeria. It was created in 1968 by the construction of the Kainji Dam and covers an area of 500 square miles (1,300 square km); it is… …   Universalium

  • Kainji Dam — is a dam across the Niger River in western Nigeria. Construction of the dam began in 1964 and was completed in 1968. The total cost was estimated at $209 million, with one quarter of this amount used to resettle people displaced by the… …   Wikipedia

  • Kainji — may refer to several locations in Nigeria:*Kainji Lake *Kainji Dam *Kainji National Park …   Wikipedia

  • Kainji National Park — is a national park in the Niger State of Nigeria. It covers an area of about 5340.82 km². The park s most important landmark is Kainji Lake …   Wikipedia

  • Kainji (Sprache) — Die Kainji Sprachen bilden eine Untereinheit des Platoid, eines Zweiges der Benue Kongo Sprachen, die ihrerseits zum Niger Kongo gehören. Die rund 55 Kainji Sprachen werden von etwa einer Millionen Menschen in Nordwest und Zentral Nigeria… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Kainji-Sprachen — Die Kainji Sprachen bilden eine Untereinheit der platoiden Sprachen, eines Zweiges der Benue Kongo Sprachen, die ihrerseits zum Niger Kongo gehören. Die rund 55 Kainji Sprachen werden von etwa einer Million Menschen in Nordwest und Zentral… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Nigeria — Nigerian, adj., n. /nuy jear ee euh/, n. a republic in W Africa: member of the Commonwealth of Nations; formerly a British colony and protectorate. 107,129,469; 356,669 sq. mi. (923,773 sq. km). Cap.: Abuja. Official name, Federal Republic of… …   Universalium

  • Niger River — or Joliba or Kworra Principal river of western Africa. The third longest on the continent, it rises in Guinea near the Sierra Leone border and flows into Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. It is 2,600 mi (4,183 sq km) long, and its middle course is… …   Universalium

  • Niger River — Quorra redirects here. For the Tron: Legacy character, see Quorra. This article is about the river. For the play or movie, see The River Niger. Niger River (Joliba …   Wikipedia

  • Niger — Nigerien /nuy jear ee en /, adj., n. /nuy jeuhr/; Fr. /nee zherdd /, n. 1. a republic in NW Africa: formerly part of French West Africa. 9,388,359; 458,976 sq. mi. (1,188,748 sq. km). Cap.: Niamey. 2. a river in W Africa, rising in S Guinea,… …   Universalium

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