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Where is the Lake Chad?

Author

Mia Kelly

Published Jan 24, 2026

Lake Chad is located in the far west of Chad and the northeast of Nigeria. Parts of the lake also extend to Niger and Cameroon. It is fed mainly by the Chari River through the Lagone tributary, which used to provide 90 per cent of its water.

Where is Chad lake in Africa?

Lake Chad, French Lac Tchad, freshwater lake located in the Sahelian zone of west-central Africa at the conjunction of Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger. It is situated in an interior basin formerly occupied by a much larger ancient sea that is sometimes called Mega-Chad.

Where is Chad located exactly?

Chad, landlocked country in north-central Africa. The terrain is that of a shallow basin that rises gradually from the Lake Chad area in the west and is rimmed by mountains to the north, east, and south.

What is Lake Chad known for?

Nestled in a low spot within a huge basin in west-central Africa is an isolated blue dot: That's Lake Chad. Its water sustains people, animals, fishing, irrigation, and economic activity in Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger.

Who uses Lake Chad?

According to FAO Director of Land and Water Parviz Koohafkan, the Lake Chad basin is one of the most important agricultural heritage sites in the world, providing a lifeline to nearly 30 million people in four countries — Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

43 related questions found

What happened Lake Chad?

The lake has shrunk 90 per cent over the last 60 years, since the chronic droughts surged at the beginning of 1970s. The surface area of the lake was 26,000 square kilometres in 1963; it has now reduced to less than 1,500 square kilometres.

Is Chad a poor country?

Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world and has the lowest life expectancy of all countries. In 2017, the life expectancy for a Chadian citizen was found to be only 50.6 years.

Which state is Lake Chad located in Nigeria?

The Chad Basin National Park (Lake Chad Nigeria Section) occupies a total of 2,258sq.km and is located between Borno and Yobe states in the extreme north-eastern corner of Nigeria.

Where is Sudanese?

Sudan, country located in northeastern Africa. The name Sudan derives from the Arabic expression bilād al-sūdān (“land of the blacks”), by which medieval Arab geographers referred to the settled African countries that began at the southern edge of the Sahara.

Why is the country called Chad?

Lake Chad, after which the country is named (and which in turn takes its name from the Kanuri word for "lake"), is the remains of an immense lake that occupied 330,000 square kilometres (130,000 sq mi) of the Chad Basin 7,000 years ago.

What caused Lake Chad to dry up?

The water body has diminished by 90% since the 1960s due to overuse and climate change effects. Conflict between herders and farmers became common as livelihoods were lost. Families who relied on the lake started migrating to other areas in search of water.

Can Lake Chad Be Saved?

The replenishment project is another major initiative to help save Lake Chad. Sources said it has already been approved by the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, which share the River Congo, into which the Oubangui flows.

Is Lake Chad safe?

Do Not Travel to: Lake Chad region due to terrorism. Borders with Libya and Sudan due to armed conflict and minefields.

Do they speak English in Chad?

Chad has two official languages, French and Modern Standard Arabic, and over 120 indigenous languages. A vernacular version of Arabic, Chadian Arabic, is a lingua franca and the language of commerce, spoken by 40-60% of the population. The two official languages have fewer speakers than Chadian Arabic.

What are people from Chad called?

List of Chadians - Wikipedia.

What kind of food do they eat in Chad?

Widespread staples include millet, sorghum and rice, while the common vegetables include okra and the leaf of the cassava plant. Fish such as tilapia and Nile perch are frequently consumed in the north due to the proximity of Lake Chad. Further south, it's more likely to see meats including mutton and chicken served.

Why is the life expectancy in Chad so low?

Life expectancy is extremely low at only 48 years at birth. Chad is affected by natural disasters on a regular basis. In rural areas, people heavily depend on agriculture and droughts can have devastating socioeconomic effects. Around 80 per cent of the population depend on subsistence farming and raising livestock.

What countries does Lake Chad border?

Bordered by Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon, Lake Chad currently covers only 1350 square kilometers, down from 25,000 square kilometers in 1963. The Chari and Logone Rivers, both of which originate in the Central African Republic and flow northward, provide most of the surface water entering Lake Chad.

What is unique about Lake Chad?

Lake Chad is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Africa. Over 90% of the lake has shrunk in the last 60 years.

What is the main threat to Lake Chad?

The lake was once one of the largest water bodies on the planet and due to climatic variability, climate change and human pressure on water resources in its basin over recent decades, the lake has shrunk by 90% from 25000 square kms in 1963 to less than 1500 square kilometers in 2001.