Lake Fitriis a shallowfreshwaterlake in the center ofChad,in theSahelregion of Africa, lying about 300 km east ofN’Djamena.It has been designated a Wetland of International Importance under theRamsar Convention.
Lake Fitri | |
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Coordinates | 12°48′33″N17°30′9″E/ 12.80917°N 17.50250°E |
Primary inflows | Batha River |
Catchment area | 70,000 km2(27,000 sq mi) |
Basincountries | Chad |
Surface area | 500 km2(190 sq mi) |
Official name | Lac Fitri |
Designated | 13 June 1990 |
Reference no. | 486[1] |
Geography
editThe normal size of the lake is about 50,000 ha (120,000 acres), though this can triple in wetter years. It is fed by seasonal rainfall and run-off from a catchment area estimated at 70,000 km2(27,000 sq mi). The principal river feed is the seasonalBatha Riverwhich carries water from theOuaddai massifto the west. Similarly to Chad's other lake,Lake Chad,it is not as large as it once was. The normally permanent lake may dry out during severedroughtperiods, such as occurred at the beginning of the twentieth century and again in 1984–1985.
Important Bird Area
editThe lake has been designated anImportant Bird Area(IBA) byBirdLife Internationalbecause it supports significant populations ofwhite-facedandfulvous whistling-ducks,ferruginous ducks,garganeys,northern pintails,black crowned cranes,African spoonbillsandsquacco herons.[2]
References
edit- ^"Lac Fitri".RamsarSites Information Service.Retrieved25 April2018.
- ^"Lake Fitri".BirdLife Data Zone.BirdLife International. 2024.Retrieved2024-10-30.