| Lake Narungazi | |
|---|---|
| Lac Narungazi | |
  Lake Narungazi | |
| Location | Kirundo Province of Burundi |
| Coordinates | 2°32′11″S30°00′11″E / 2.5365°S 30.0031°E |
Lake Narungazi (French : Lac Narungazi), or Lake Narugazi, Lake Narunganzi, is a lake in the Commune of Ntega in Kirundo Province of Burundi.
Lake Narungazi is in the Commune of Ntega, Kirundo Province, to the east of Mugendo. It is west of Lake Rwihinda and south of Lake Nagitamo. [1] It covers an area of 61 hectares (150 acres) in a valley at an altitude of 1,380 metres (4,530 ft) bordered by the collines Nyange–Kiriringanire and Kanyarwe–Mwunguko, which reach an altitude of 1,452 metres (4,764 ft). [2]
Lake Narungazi is in the Nyavyamo cyperus papyrus swamp which extends east from the Akanyaru River and includes Lake Nagitamo and Lake Rwihinda. [3] Upstream of Lake Narungazi, the Nyavyamo marsh is used for the cultivation of sorghum. [4] The southern branch of Lake Narungazi, between the collines of Kanyago the east and Mugendo to the west, extends through Narungazi marsh, which is used for cultivation of rice up to the edge of the water, apart from some fragments of Typha domingensis and some tufts of Phragmites . [5]
Lake Gacamirindi dried up in 2004, a period of normal precipitation. [6] Lake Narungazi and Lake Nagitamo now supply water to Lake Gacamirindi through a canal connecting the lakes through the Rugege marsh. [4] There is a risk that this canal will lower the water level of Lake Rwihinda, particularly during periods of drought, when water no longer flows from the Akanyaru River to Lake Rwihinda. [7]
Lake Narungazi is part of the Protected Aquatic Landscape of the North (French : Paysage Aquatique Protégé du Nord), a 162.42 square kilometres (62.71 sq mi) complex of 8 permanent freshwater lakes including lakes Rweru, Cohoha, Rwihinda, Kanzigiri, Gacamirindi, Nagitamo, Narungazi and Mwungere as well as marshes, that form part of the Nile Basin. [8] These lakes are dominated by small Tilapia and Oreochromis species. They have been the site of largescale invasions of water hyacinth, which has greatly decreased production and reduced fish stocks, as well as crowded out native vegetation. Burundi has taken little effort to remove the invasive species. [8]
In October 2013 it was reported that an entrepreneur had introduced new species of fish to the lake. The local people thought ha had added harmful chemicals to the water to protect the fish, and they were no longer allowed to use the water. An official from the Ministry of the Environment said the proper permits had been issued. The entrepreneur denied adding anything other than a ton of tilapia from Lake Rweru to the water. It seemed from the report that there were some restrictions on fishing for the first year. [9]
Kirundo Province is one of the eighteen provinces of Burundi, in north of the country bordering Rwanda. The economy is mostly based on agriculture, with a dispersed population and few sizable communities. Before 1970 large parts of the province were forested. Migrants from the south then cleared much of the vegetation to create agricultural land, and Kirundo became the breadbasket of Burundi. The civil war from 1993 to 2005 caused agricultural output to drop by more than half. Since then, lack of farm inputs, poor infrastructure and shortages of water have caused widespread poverty.
Lake Cyohoha South or Cyohoha Sud as it is known in Rwanda or Lake Cohoha in Burundi is a small lake in East Africa. It straddles the border between Burundi and Rwanda.
The commune of Bugabira is a commune of Kirundo Province in northern Burundi. The capital is Bugabira. There are health centers at Muyange and Ruhehe.
Busoni is a commune of Kirundo Province in northern Burundi. The seat lies at Busoni.
The commune of Ntega is a commune of Kirundo Province in northern Burundi.
Lake Mwungere is a lake in the Kirundo Province of Burundi.
The Murehe Forest is an area of forest in the north of the Kirundo Province of Burundi. It is protected by the Murehe Reserve, part of the Lacs du Nord Aquatic Landscape.
The Protected Aquatic Landscape of the North, also called the Northern Protected Waterway or Northern Protected Waterscape, is a protected area in Kirundo Province, Burundi. It covers eight lakes in the north of the province, and a forest. It was designated Ramsar site no. 2149 in March 2014.
Lake Kanzigiri is a lake in the Kirundo Province of Burundi.
Lake Rwihinda, also known as the Lac aux Oiseaux is a lake in the Kirundo Province of Burundi. It is home to diverse migratory birds, which are the main tourist attraction in the region. However, despite being protected, it is under threat from encroaching agriculture in this very poor region.
Lake Gitamo, or Lake Nagitamo is a lake in the Kirundo Province of Burundi.
Lake Gacamirindi, or Lake Gacamirinda, is a lake in the Kirundo Province of Burundi.
Ntega is a large village, the seat of the Commune of Ntega, Kirundo Province in the north of Burundi.
Mugendo is a village in the Commune of Ntega, Kirundo Province in the north of Burundi.
Nyavyamo Marsh is a marsh in the west of Kirundo Province, Burundi. Although parts are protected, it is mainly used for rice production.
Nyamabuno Marsh is a marsh in the northeast of Kirundo Province, Burundi.
Ruduhira Marsh is a marsh in the northeast of Kirundo Province, Burundi.
Kabuyenge River is a river in the northwest of Kirundo Province, Burundi.
Nduruma River is a river in the northeast of Kirundo Province, Burundi, a tributary of Lake Kanzigiri.
The Nyamabuno River is a river in the northeast of Kirundo Province, Burundi, a tributary of Lake Rweru.