Oguta Lake

Oguta Lake is a lean 'finger lake' formed by the damming of the lower Njaba River with alluvium.[2] It is the largest natural lake in Imo State, Southeastern Nigeria;[3] within the equatorial rainforest region of Niger Delta.[4] 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.[5]

Oguta Lake
LocationImo State
Coordinates5°42′24″N 6°47′33″E
Native nameOgbuide, Ughamiri  (Igbo)
Primary inflowsUtu, Awbana, Orashi and Njaba rivers
Basin countriesNigeria
Max. depth8 m (26 ft)
Designated30 April 2008
Reference no.1757[1]

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.[6] The stream from Njaba River is the major inflow to Oguta Lake.[6] 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, nnebukwu,mgbele,Awa Awo-Omamma Akabo as a source of water, fish, tourism and an outlet for sewerage.[7] Uhamiri is the goddess of the Lake.[8]

Trade Route

The river route Njaba and Orashi via Oguta Lake to the coast, passing through Awo-omamma, Mgbidi, Oguta, Ndoni, Abonnema, Degema made Oguta, Osemotor, Awo-omamma and surrounding towns important commercial centres of international trade mainly for oil palm.[6] Oguta Lake also served as a Biafran army marine base during the Nigerian Civil War.[9]

Footnotes
  1. "Oguta Lake". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. Floyd, Barry (1969). Eastern Nigeria. Springer. p. 89. ISBN 9781349006663. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  3. 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. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.402.4399.
  4. 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.
  5. OGUNKOYA, Prof. O.O. (2007). "Oguta Lake" (PDF). Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands(RIS) (2006–2008): 4.
  6. 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 (4): 1. ISSN 2229-5313.
  7. "OGUTA LAKE". www.ilec.or.jp. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  8. Chuku, Gloria (2005). Igbo women and economic transformation in southeastern Nigeria, 1900-1960. Routledge. p. 26. ISBN 0-415-97210-8.
  9. "LakeNet -Lakes". www.worldlakes.org. Retrieved 2008-06-08.


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