Lake Kamnarok

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Lake Kamnarok is a lake in Kenya, at the base of the Kerio valley. The name oroginated from the word narok, which is a species of water plant that was widely found in the lake in the early stages of the lake formation.

The lake is 1 km² in size. It was formed in year 1961 as a result of the Kerio River changing its course, therefore forming an oxbow lake. The dramatic event of its formation saw people living in the area being evacuated in order to save lives.

The lake was gazzeted in 1984, and it saw the creation of the Lake Kamnarok game reserve, which is the home of 500 elephants.

Like other Great Rift Valley lakes, its existence is being threatened, mainly because of farming activites in the area. There are deep gulleys that is likely lead to spilling of the water, thus joining it with the River Kerio. A few measures have been taken to save the lake, including building of gabions. The tributaries that empty their water to lake Kamnarok include the rivers Ketipborok, Cheplogoi, Oiwo and Lelabei.