Lake Chad
Shrinking African freshwater
Lake Chad is a large freshwater lake in west-central Africa, bordered by Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria.
Once among Africa's largest lakes, it has shrunk dramatically since the 1960s due to climate change and irrigation demands.
The lake and its basin support millions of people through fishing and agriculture: The shrinking of Lake Chad has displaced farming communities.
Semi-arid African transition zone
- NigeriaWest African federal republic
- CameroonWest African republic
- NigerWest African republic
- Central AfricaMiddle of the continent
shallow · floodplain · archipelago · islands · shoreline · basin · tributaries · inflow
Non-saline aquatic environment
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
inflow · water table · recharge · salinity · evapotranspiration · tributaries · seasonal variation · water balance
Complete removal of moisture
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
- evaporationLiquid turning to gas
- recessionProlonged economic decline
- desertificationLand becoming barren, infertile
contraction · decline · aridity · drying · degradation · depletion · shrinking · satellite imagery
Catching aquatic creatures
- farmingCultivating land for food
- herdingManaging animal groups
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
- canoesNarrow paddled watercraft
nets · agriculture · pastoralism · cattle · trade · markets · food security · subsistence
Water-saturated terrain
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- migratory birdsSpecies traveling between seasonal habitats
- fish speciesClassification of aquatic vertebrates
- papyrusAncient plant-derived writing material
reeds · floodplain · waterfowl · hippopotamus · crocodile · manatee · nesting · breeding grounds
Restoring depleted supply
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- international cooperationCountries jointly addressing challenges
- fundingSupplying monetary resources
- feasibilityPotential for success
Congo River · infrastructure · engineering · sustainability · water security · revival
Sahel
Semi-arid African transition zone
Central Africa · shallow · floodplain · archipelago · islands · shoreline · basin · tributaries · inflow · outflow
freshwater
Non-saline aquatic environment
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
- watershedDrainage area boundary
precipitation · inflow · water table · recharge · salinity · evapotranspiration · tributaries · seasonal variation · water balance · limnology
desiccation
Complete removal of moisture
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
- evaporationLiquid turning to gas
- recessionProlonged economic decline
desertification · contraction · decline · aridity · drying · degradation · depletion · shrinking · satellite imagery · overextraction
fishing
Catching aquatic creatures
- farmingCultivating land for food
- herdingManaging animal groups
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
canoes · nets · agriculture · pastoralism · cattle · trade · markets · food security · subsistence · communities
wetlands
Water-saturated terrain
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- migratory birdsSpecies traveling between seasonal habitats
- fish speciesClassification of aquatic vertebrates
papyrus · reeds · floodplain · waterfowl · hippopotamus · crocodile · manatee · nesting · breeding grounds · conservation
replenishment
Restoring depleted supply
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- international cooperationCountries jointly addressing challenges
- fundingSupplying monetary resources
feasibility · Congo River · infrastructure · engineering · sustainability · water security · revival
Lake Chadriver
Large flowing watercourse
ocean · stream · Niger River · Nile River · Atlantic Ocean
Lake ChadLake Baikal
Deepest lake on Earth
Lake Superior · Great Lakes · Crater Lake · Lake Victoria · Caspian Sea
Lake ChadSahara Desert
Massive North African arid region
desert · Sahel · Kalahari Desert · sand dunes
lake, lakes, lakeside, lakefront, Chad, lakebed, laker, lakeward, lakehouse