Eighteen Interconnected Lakes of Ounianga

Around 40 kilometres separate the freshwater, salt, and hypersaline eighteen interconnected lakes, which all get their water from the subsurface. Yoan, the largest lake in Ounianga Kebir, is 358 acres in size and has a depth of 27 metres. There are only microorganisms that can thrive in its salty waters, such as algae. 

The second-largest group, the Ounianga Serir, is made up of eighteen interconnected lakes connected by sand dunes. Some of these eighteen interconnected lakes have almost half of their surface covered by floating reeds, which helps keep the water from drying out as quickly. The surface area of Lake Teli is 436 hectares, with a depth of fewer than 10 metres. Some of these lakes are home to a broad assortment of aquatic animals, particularly fish, due to the high quality of the freshwater they contain an exceptional natural landscape.

Exceptional Value for the Money 

These eighteen interconnected lakes are located in Chad’s northeast and are divided into two groups of six lakes each. The area is a hot, hyperarid desert. The average annual rainfall in this area is less than 2 millimetres. A 4,869-hectare buffer zone surrounds the 62,808-hectare property. There was an ancient lake in the area that is now home to the Lakes of Ounianga. One of the strangest hydrological systems in the world is responsible for sustaining the world-largest permanent freshwater lake system in an exceedingly arid area of the Ennedi region of the Sahara desert.

Features like desert formations, a variety of lake colours, and vivid plant life enhance the land’s natural attractiveness. The shape and layout of the eighteen interconnected lakes as well as the effect of the wind on the floating plants, give the appearance that the desert is being swept by waves of water.

Aquifers and the complicated hydrological systems they feed are responsible for the formation of desert lakes that will remain there indefinitely. For as long as we’ve been exploring the earth, these bodies of water have always existed nearby. Landscape mosaics, such as lakes with water that is blue, green, or reddish in colour, palm trees, dunes, and spectacular sandstone landforms, contribute to the area’s beauty. All of these things can be found in the middle of a desert that spreads for hundreds of miles in every direction. 

One-third of Ounianga Serir Lakes’ surface is covered by floating reed carpets, which contrast sharply with the lake’s deep blue colour. There is an interesting contrast between the sand dunes that are brown in colour and the naked rock structures positioned between the lakes. The wind-induced movement of the lakes’ floating vegetation causes the production of what appear to be “waves of water flowing in the desert.” The lakes’ shape and distribution also play a role. 

Integrity

To protect the 62,808-hectare property, the perimeters have been meticulously planned. It is included in the property to encompass the region below the 450-metre contour line, which is located within the local lake watershed. The Ounianga Kebir hamlet is part of the 4,869-acre Lake Yoan buffer zone. The many demands on Lake Yoan have been taken into account while designating the land for management. Ounianga Serir, the smallest settlement on the site, has a population of around a thousand residents.

A groundwater supply compensates for evaporation losses to keep the Lakes of Ounianga’s hydrological system and water level stable. Throughout the year, the water level hardly slightly changes.

Aesthetic appeal, as well as the property’s natural beauty, have been safeguarded. Yoan and Teli lakes are popular tourist destinations, but local efforts ensure that human activity and the site’s qualities do not interfere with each other. These many goals are furthered and supported by the management plan’s operations. It is hoped that Decree No. 095, which was just recently put into force and will further enhance the site’s level of protection, will prohibit the property from being exploited for intensive farming practices while protecting traditional agricultural ways. 

Management and Safety Skills are Essential

Because of this, Ounianga has been placed under government control by the Ministry of Culture rather than the Chadian protected area system established by Law No. 14/PR/2008, which focuses mostly on fauna and flora. Ounianga Lakes was designated a “natural site” by Decree No. On both the national and municipal levels, there is strong political support for the preservation and maintenance of the land.

The injunction prohibits a wide range of activities, including mining, because it could jeopardise the security of the property. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Category III protected areas, and the national designation is comparable to this. Additional information on environmental impact assessments for various development projects is provided under Order No. 630. 

Both a long-term and a short-term strategy are in place at the site, and it has the staff and resources necessary to put both into action. Law 14/PR/98 also protects wetlands like the Lakes of Ounianga. The area is protected from possibly harmful consequences by putting a strategy into action with the help of local organisations. For the most part, conservancy efforts aim to develop and implement effective measures to regulate urban development, deal with litter and waste management issues, support sustainable agriculture and ensure that traffic levels are maintained at levels that do not impact the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).

Conclusion

Local inhabitants and officials from the local government are working together to secure the long-term preservation of the property. Efforts are being supported by a Local Management Committee, which is actively involved in developing a new management plan.