Oguta Lake | |
---|---|
Location | Imo State |
Coordinates | 5°42′24″N6°47′33″E / 5.70667°N 6.79250°E |
Primary inflows | Utu, Awbana, Orashi and Njaba rivers |
Basin countries | Nigeria |
Max. depth | 8 m (26 ft) |
Designated | 30 April 2008 |
Reference no. | 1757 [1] |
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. [3] [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. [3] [5]
The lake is situated in Oguta about 50 kilometres (30 mi) from the junction of the Ndoni and Orashi River. [6] It is about eight kilometres (5 mi) long from east to west and 2.5 kilometres (1+1⁄2 mi)wide. [7] The lake is 5:41-5:44N, 6:41-6:50E; <50 m above sea level [8]
The stream from Njaba River is the major inflow to Oguta Lake. [9] The other three tributaries are Awbana, Utu and Orashi. [10] The Orashi River flows past Oguta Lake in its southwestern portion. [9]
The wet season is warm while the dry season is hot, muggy, and partly cloudy in Oguta Lake. During the year, the temperature typically varies from 68°F to 88°F and is rarely below 60°F or above 91°F. [11]
Based on beach/pool score, the best time of year to visit Oguta for hot-weather activities is from late November to late January. [12]
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. [13] Uhamiri is the goddess of the lake. [14]
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.[ citation needed ] Oguta Lake also served as a Biafran army marine base during the Nigerian Civil War. [15]
In Oguta, the dry season is hot, muggy, and partially cloudy whereas the wet season is warm, oppressive, and overcast. The average annual temperature ranges from 68°F to 88°F, rarely falling below 60°F or rising above 91°F. [16]
Orlu is the second-largest city in South East, Imo State, Nigeria, with a population of 420,600. It has a long history as the headquarters for the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and humanitarian relief agencies during the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War. The city houses the Nigerian headquarters of the British Cheshire Home. It is the second most developed city after Owerri in Imo state.
Oguta is a town on the east bank of Oguta Lake in Imo State of southeastern Nigeria.
Ikere-Ekiti, also known as Ikere or Ikerre, is a city in Ekiti State of Nigeria. It is an agricultural and mine centre. According to the 1963 and 1991 census, the population was 114,780 and 60,257 respectively, but the 2006 census recorded it to be 147,355.
Mgbidi is the headquarters of Oru West, a local government area of Imo State in southeastern Nigeria. It is located at latitude 5.37° N and longitude 6.57° E. It was the headquarters of the Oru Local Government Area before its division into two local government areas, Oru West and Oru East, in 1996 under the presidency of Sani Abacha.
Imo State is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its name from the Imo River which flows along the state's eastern border. The state capital is Owerri and the State's slogan is the "Eastern Heartland."
Awgu
Isu is a local government area in Imo State of Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Umundugba. Other communities are Amandugba, Ekwe, Uburu Ekwe, Isunjaba, Amurie Omanze, Ebenator Ekwe and Oboro Amurie. The name comes from the Isu people, a subgroup of the Igbo people.
Igumale is a town in Benue State Nigeria.Igumale is located about 120 kilometers (75 mi) distant. About 256 kilometers (159 mi) separates Igumale from Abuja, the nation's capital.
Njaba is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is located in the town of Nnenasa. It has an area of 84 km2 and a population of 143,485 at the 2006 census. The 2011 density projection is 2,004.5 inhabitants/km2. The postal code of the area is 474.
Oru-East is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is at Omuma. The following are towns that make up Oru East: Akatta, Akuma, Amagu, Amiri, Awo-Omamma, and Omuma.
Owerri West is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Umuguma. Owerri West Local Government is administered under the terms of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Elections to the office of the Chairman of the local government are held through nominations by registered political parties as stipulated by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the supervision of Imo State Electoral Commission. Owerri West was carved out of the former Owerri Local Government Area in 1996. A very large portion of the local government constitute the capital city of Imo State, Nigeria.
Fagge is a Local Government Area in Kano State, Nigeria, within the state metropolitan. Its headquarters are in the suburb of Waje.
Awo-Omamma, in the bortheast of the Niger Delta basin, is an oil-rich indigenous Igbo town on the banks of Njaba River. It is a potential tourism hub in the region due to its species of wildlife in Umuezukwe and green vegetation.
Njaba River, in the Niger Delta Basin is a major tributary of Oguta Lake in Nigeria's South East Imo State. With 4.5m mean depth, the river has a total stream length of 78.2 km, basin area of 145.63 square kilometers and an average specific discharge of about 1700 m3/hour.
Izombe in the northeast of Niger Delta is an oil town in Njaba River basin, Imo State Southeastern Nigeria.
Dikenafai is a town in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria, famous for its natural waterfall, Ezeama, which turns into the great Orashi River. Dikenafai currently serves as the headquarters of Ideato South.
Awbana River is a creek originating from a source in Mgbidi, Imo State. Awbana drains into Oguta lake
Ossemotor is an ancient river port and park on the bank of the lean 'finger-like' Oguta Lake in Imo State, southeastern Nigeria. Known for its rich history of commerce, Ossemotor was a strategic economic centre in the Eastern Region of Nigeria. Occupying approximately 46.50 km2 in landmass, it is a part of the Oguta metropolis in Imo State. Ossemotor was used for exchange, evacuation and shipment of goods.
Okwudor is an autonomous community/town in the northern section of Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. It is one of the local government areas that make up the Orlu zone of the state. Okwudor shares boundaries with, Amucha, Attah, Awo-omamma, Egwedu, Nkume, Nnenasa, and Umuaka towns. In land area, Okwudor is the largest town in northern Njaba with some rough estimates from locals claiming it Is reach makes it the largest town in the entire Njaba LGA, as the town sits on the northern bank of Njaba River. The famous river separates Okwudor from Umuaka.
Umuezukwe is an ancient trade route, a river port, and a farming community in Awo-Omamma, northeast of the Niger Delta region, Nigeria's South East, Imo State. It is one of the densely populated Awo-Omamma rural settlements in the Njaba River basin.