Human beings define me as a shallow and enclosed lake, but I am not like most other lakes. I’m located at the center of what they call the African continent, between sand and trees.

Most humans think I am hidden, remote; some others live on me, on islands upon my waters. Yet others come looking for me, on motorbikes or riding camels, but they do not always find me.

As I move people move with me. They follow me, mourn the fish that evaporate with me, or celebrate the land I leave behind, feast on it, while their fertilizing ways choke and poison the life I enhance. Humans have divided me with invisible lines, have drained me into smaller, artificial lakes. Often they fight for the water, some other times they cooperate, especially when I am gone. But they don’t see that the water is what I am, what constitutes me and those who depend on me. Without water we all cease to exist: the algae and trees, the swimming, flying, and running living beings, Lake Chad, all gone.

(Account based on a free interpretation of data and the personal experience of Uche Okpara)

Lake Chad is a shallow, endorheic lake in Central Africa, shared by Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon. “It is located between 12° and 14° 20 N, 13° and 15° 20 E. The sailing area is situated at the altitude of 283 m.”11Lake Chad Basin Commission, online (accessed 10/14/2015). The lake is “a transition zone between the Sahara Desert to the north, and savannahs and woodlands to the south.”22Earth From Space, Lake Chad, video, The Encyclopedia of Earth, online (accessed 10/14/2015).

“It displays three major types of landscape:

• Many islands located in the eastern bank, which match the emerged summit of immerged erg dunes.
• Rooted or floating vegetation islands called bench islands (mostly Cyperus papyrus and water reeds).
• Areas of open water.”33Lake Chad Basin Commission, online, ibid.

“According to climate fluctuations, Lake Chad occupies part or whole of the endorheic basin estimated at 25,000 km2. [. . .] Presently, feeding basins are Chari and Logone, which are located in the southern part of the basin and only stand for 25% of the whole size of the basin.”44Ibid.

“Severe droughts since the 1970s have decreased lake levels so that it is now extremely shallow and divided into northern and southern pools.”55“Lake Chad flooded savanna”, World Wildlife Fund, online (accessed 10/14/2015)

“Inefficient damming and irrigation methods on the part of the countries bordering the lake are partly responsible for its shrinkage.”66Ahmad Salkida, “Africa’s vanishing Lake Chad,” Africa Renewal, online (accessed 10/14/2015).

“This ecoregion has highest biological importance for the large numbers of migrant birds that use the area [. . ..] The bird life is threatened by decreasing water levels. [. . .] The semi-arid Sahel savanna supports relatively few mammal species, and their population numbers tend to be low. However, the wetlands of Lake Chad and the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands formerly attracted a higher diversity and abundance of mammals. [. . .] Large fish migrations correspond with seasonal inputs. [. . .] The non-migratory fish have developed adaptations to survive extended drought periods, such as air breathing or aestivating in a mucous cocoon or egg.”77“Lake Chad flooded savanna”, World Wildlife Fund, online (accessed 10/14/2015).

Current threats:

• Climate change88United Nations, Saving Lake Chad, video (7:31), online (accessed 10/14/2015).
• Agricultural practices: excessive irrigation, slash-and-burn techniques,99Ibid. use of pesticides.1010Abstract, “Organochlorine and Organophosphorus Pesticide Residues in Fish Samples from Lake Chad, Baga, North Eastern Nigeria,” World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, online (accessed 10/14/2015).
• Terrorism (Boko Haram) as a threat to social security, stability, and cooperation.1111See: “Around Lake Chad: Boko Haram’s legacy of ruin and fear ‒ in pictures,” The Guardian, online; “Lake Chad: Populations fleeing,” Medecins Sans Frontiers, online; “At least 16 killed in Boko Haram raids on Lake Chad villages,” Reuters, online (all accessed 10/14/2015).