In the extremely arid area of Northern Chad, where the average annual rainfall barely exceeds 2 millimeters, is a chain of 18 lakes "Ounianga."
Lakes depend on underground water flows that were formed here a very long time, when the Saharan climate was much wetter. Around 10 thousand years ago, this area was the only large lake in the tens of kilometers long. Since the climate in recent years has changed dramatically, the lake has decreased, and expanding the dunes split it into several small ponds. 18 lakes - all that came to our days. This picture was taken NASA. Lake Ounianga located in a small pool at the foot of the cliffs of sandstone, where the ancient underground water streams are. Despite the intense heat and a high percentage of evaporation, groundwater sources are strong enough to feed water of the lake. This unique hydrological system is able to feed even the largest lakes in the world, if they were in the same arid environment. Chain Ounianga Lakes is divided into 2 groups, located at a distance of 40 kilometers from each other. They differ in chemical composition, some of them are so salty that can support only primitive forms of life, and some new lakes provide habitat for many species. The area of the lake Teli, the largest and most biologically important, of 4.5 square kilometers, and the maximum depth - 10 meters. Around it formed one of the most unusual oases in the world. In the second group of 4 lakes have a more profound - Ounianga Kebir, an area of 3.6 km and a depth of 27 meters. This reservoir can only live algae and some other micro-organisms. Rocks around its shores are completely covered with white salt crystals, situated near the village, where 9,000 people live. Because of the very remote lake Ounianga locations visited by only 500 tourists per year, reservoir make their way in this dangerous and remote corner of Chad, one of the most beautiful deserts in the world.
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