description Lake Chad Overview
Lake Chad is a shallow, endorheic freshwater lake at the meeting point of Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria. Its surface area responds strongly to rainfall, river inflow, evaporation, and water withdrawals for irrigation. Historical studies report about a 90 percent decline in surface area from the 1960s to the 1990s, while its shallow form causes marked seasonal changes. The lake remains an important resource for fishing, farming, and wetland livelihoods in the surrounding basin.
[UNEP](https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/tale-disappearing-lake)
help Lake Chad FAQ
Which countries share Lake Chad?
Lake Chad lies where Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria meet. Its shallow waters and wetlands extend across this four-country region.
Why does Lake Chad change size so much?
Its surface responds strongly to rainfall, river inflow, evaporation, and irrigation withdrawals. Because it is shallow and endorheic, water does not drain to an ocean.
Did Lake Chad really lose about 90 percent of its area?
Historical studies report about a 90 percent decline from the lake's mid-20th-century extent. The exact surface area varies over time because rainfall and seasonal inflows change the lake's open water and wetlands.
What river supplies most of Lake Chad?
The Chari and Logone river system is the main source of inflow to Lake Chad. These rivers enter from the south and are important to the lake's changing water balance.
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