Lake Mai-Ndombe

Lake Mai-Ndombe
seen from space (false color)
Location Bandundu Province
Coordinates 2°00′S 18°20′E / 2°S 18.33°E / -2; 18.33Coordinates: 2°00′S 18°20′E / 2°S 18.33°E / -2; 18.33
Primary outflows Fimi River
Basin countries Democratic Republic of the Congo
Surface area 890 sq mi (2,300 km2)
Average depth 5 m (16 ft)
Max. depth 10 m (33 ft)
Lake Mai-Ndombe and the Fimi River, in red

Lake Mai-Ndombe (French: Lac Mai-Ndombe) is a large freshwater lake in the Mai-Ndombe District of the Bandundu Province in western Democratic Republic of the Congo. The lake is within the Tumba-Ngiri-Maindombe area, the largest Wetland of International Importance recognized by the Ramsar Convention in the world.[1]

Location

The lake drains to the south through the Fimi River into the Kwah and Congo Rivers. Known until 1972 as Lake Leopold (after the Leopold II, King of the Belgians, also known as the 'Butcher of Congo'). Mai-Ndombe means “black water” in Lingala. The lake is of irregular shape and ranges in depth from only 5 meters (mean) to 10 meters (maximum). Covering approximately 890 square miles (2,300 square km), it is known to double or triple in size during the rainy season. Its waters are oxygenated throughout their depth and the pH ranges from 4.2 to 5.5. Low, forested shores surround it with dense, humid equatorial rainforest prevailing to the north and a mosaic of forest and savanna to the south.

Biodiversity

The fish of Lake Mai-Ndombe, although presumed to be similar to those of Lake Tumba, have been poorly documented. Since initial surveys from 1909-1916 by George Albert Boulenger, the lake has been a site for the continual discovery of new species. In 1984 a new species of cichlid, Nanochromis transvestitus, named for the fact that it exhibits reverse sexual dichromatism, was discovered in the lake.[2] In 2006 a new species of cichlid, Nanochromis wickleri, was discovered,[3] and in 2008, yet another new species, Chrysichthys praecox, was documented.[4]

Economic activity

Some of the main concession areas of the logging company Sodefor are to the north and south of Lake Mai-Ndombe.[5] On 28 November 2009, two logging barges sank causing the loss of 73 lives. The boat was not authorised to carry passengers, but was believed to have some 270 people on board at the time.[6]

Bibliography

  • Mapping the vegetation cover of the Mai-Ndombe region (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Regional School of Integrated Forest and Land Management. University of Kinshasa, July 2003
  • Source book for the inland fishery resources of Africa, Vol. 1. J.-P. Vanden Bossche & G.M. Bernacsek ISBN 92-5-102983-0

References

  1. ↑ "Logging concession different periods" (PDF). Institute for Environmental Security. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  2. ↑ Donald J. Stewart, Tyson R. Roberts, "A New Species of Dwarf Cichilid Fish with Reversed Sexual Dichromatism from Lac Mai-Ndombe, Zaïre", Copeia, Vol. 1984, No. 1, Feb. 23, 1984, pp. 82-86.
  3. ↑ Ulrich K. Schliewen, Melanie L. J. Stiassny, "A new species of Nanochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Mai Ndombe, central Congo Basin, Democratic Republic of Congo", Zootaxa Vol. 1169, No. 33, Apr. 10, 2006. Archived 2008-12-02 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Michael Hardman, Melanie L.J. Stiassny, "A sexually dimorphic species of Chrysichthys (Siluriformes: Claroteidae) from Lac Mai-Ndombe, Democratic Republic of the Congo", Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 175-184.
  5. ↑ "Carte Illustrative Actions Sociales". SODEFOR. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  6. ↑ BBC News article reporting the boat sinking
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