Lake Chad, the fourth-largest body of fresh water in Africa, is disappearing – and taking life along with it. Over the past 40 years, it has lost 90% of its area, shrinking from 25,000 square kilometres to just 2,500. Not long ago, the lake was bordered by four countries: Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon. Today, it touches no more than two. According to NASA, “Lake Chad is now just a shadow of its former self because of climate change ( more ...)
Lake Chad, the fourth-largest body of fresh water in Africa, is disappearing – and taking life along with it. Over the past 40 years, it has lost 90% of its area, shrinking from 25,000 square kilometres to just 2,500. Not long ago, the lake was bordered by four countries: Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon. Today, it touches no more than two. According to NASA, “Lake Chad is now just a shadow of its former self because of climate change and human overuse. If nothing is done, it will be gone in 20 years.” African monsoon rains have decreased to the point that the lake no longer reaches the borders of Nigeria and Niger. These countries are now cut off completely from access to the water.