Oguta Lake

Oguta Lake
Ogbuide, Ughamiri
Location Imo State
Coordinates 5°42′24″N 6°47′33″E / 5.70667°N 6.79250°E / 5.70667; 6.79250Coordinates: 5°42′24″N 6°47′33″E / 5.70667°N 6.79250°E / 5.70667; 6.79250
Primary inflows Utu, Awbana, Orashi and Njaba rivers
Basin countries Nigeria
Max. depth 8 m (26 ft)

Oguta Lake is a lean 'finger lake' formed by the damming of the lower Njaba River with alluvium.[1] It is the largest natural lake in Imo State, Southeastern Nigeria;[2] within the equatorial rainforest region of Niger Delta.[3] Oguta Lake's catchment area comprises the drainage area of the Njaba River and a part of the River Niger floodplain in the region south of Onitsha.[4]

Location

The lake is situated in Oguta about thirty miles (48.27 km) from the junction of the Ndoni and Orashi River.It is a fine piece of water, being about five miles (8.05 km) long from east to west and a mile and half (2.41 km) wide.[5] The stream from Njaba River is the major inflow to Oguta Lake.[5] The other 3 tributaries are Awbana, Utu and Orashi. The Orashi River flows past Oguta Lake in its southwestern portion.

Economic Importance

The lake is important to the people of oil-rich Njaba River basin including Oguta, Orsu, Mgbidi, Nkwesi, Osemotor, Awo-Omamma and Izombe as a source of water, fish, tourism and an outlet for sewerage.[6] Uhamiri is the goddess of the Lake.[7]

Trade Route

The river route Njaba and Orashi via Oguta Lake to the coast, passing through Awo-omamma, Mgbidi, Oguta, Ndoni, Abonnema, made Oguta, Osemotor, Awo-omamma and surrounding towns important commercial centres of international trade mainly for oil palm.[5] Oguta Lake also served as a Biafran army marine base during the Nigerian Civil War.[8]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Floyd, Barry (1969). "Eastern Nigeria". Springer: 89. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  2. ↑ NFOR, Bruno Ndicho; et al. (2012). "Inventory of the Quaternary Geology and the Evolution of the Oguta Lake, in Southeastern Nigeria". World Journal of Engineering and Pure and Applied Science. Department of Geology, Anambra State University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria. 2:1 (2249-0582): 2.
  3. ↑ UMUNNAKWE, JOHNBOSCO EMEKA; et al. (2014). "Assessment of Water Quality and Heavy Metal levels of Fish Species in Oguta Lake, Imo State Nigeria". Journal of Natural Sciences Research. 4 (2225-0921): 1.
  4. ↑ OGUNKOYA, Prof. O.O. (2007). "Oguta Lake" (PDF). Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands(RIS) (2006-2008): 4.
  5. 1 2 3 Okonkwo, Uche Uwaezuoke (2011). "The Aro, Host Communities And Continuties In Intergroup Suspicion In The Oguta Area Since Pre-colonial Times" (PDF). Afro Asian Journal of Social Sciences. 2 (2.4): 1. ISSN 2229-5313.
  6. ↑ "OGUTA LAKE". www.ilec.or.jp. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  7. ↑ Chuku, Gloria (2005). Igbo women and economic transformation in southeastern Nigeria, 1900-1960. Routledge. p. 26. ISBN 0-415-97210-8.
  8. ↑ "LakeNet -Lakes". www.worldlakes.org. Retrieved 2008-06-08.


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