Lake Chad

Lake Chad is located south of the Sahara in between the countries Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger. It is an inland lake without an outlet. Lake Chad is the only large overground freshwater reservoir in the Sahelian Zone. It is of major importance for the people, the economy and the ecological systems.

Lake Chad continuously shrinks in spite of the efforts of the bordering countries and its partners.

Location of Lake Chad;
Author: Eric Gaba

Disappearing Lake Chad

Especially since 1963, the water level of Lake Chad keeps sinking. This can easily be seen on satellite photos. In 2001, its surface was a mere 5% of its former size, and the lake surface keeps sinking.

Missing data exchange

NASA satellite photos show that there is still no effective cooperation between the bordering countries to protect Lake Chad and its ecological system.

Tributaries of Lake Chad

About 90 % of Lake Chad’s inflow come from the River Chari, 1,740 km long, that originates in the Central African Republic, and the River Logone that rises in the east of Cameroon.