R'Kiz
Photo taken by Apollo 6.
R'Kiz is located in Mauritania
R'Kiz
R'Kiz
Location in Mauritania
LocationMauritania
Coordinates16°52′N 15°17′W / 16.867°N 15.283°W / 16.867; -15.283
TypeEphemeral Lake
Primary inflowsSenegal River
Primary outflowsSenegal River
Max. width5 km (3.1 mi)
Surface area12,970 ha (32,000 acres)
Average depth1.44 m (4 ft 9 in)
Max. depth3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Surface elevation1 m (3 ft 3 in)
SettlementsR'Kiz
References[1] [2]

Lake R'Kiz or Rkiz is a lake in southern Mauritania with an area of 12,970 ha.[1]

Ecology

Since the lake is fed by surplus water from the Senegal River, during the rainy season it can increase to a maximum length of 34 km and a width of up to 8 km,[2] while the water level can fluctuate by as much as 4.29 m.[1]

In the marshland along its fringes, Phragmite and Typha reeds are growing, which are cut for thatching. Several species of birds are present, as are numerous snakes and small mammals such as otters and mongoose. Slender-snouted crocodiles can also be found.[2]

Economy

The lake has been used for fishing,[2] but agriculture is also prevalent. Although the region has seen several agriculture projects aimed at benefiting farmers both by the Islamic Development Bank and The Food Crisis Prevention Network,[3][4][5] like elsewhere in Mauritania, as of 2017 significant portions of the local population continued to suffer from living conditions comparable to modern slavery.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Rkiz, Lake". Database for Hydrological Time Series of Inland Waters (DAHITI). Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Huges, R. H.; Huges, J. S. (1992). A Directory of African Wetlands. Cambridge: IUCN. p. 50. ISBN 9782880329495. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  3. ↑ "R'KIZ LAKE IRRIGATION PROJECT (F.S)". IsDB Project Database. Islamic Development Bank. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  4. ↑ "EXECUTION OF R'KIZ LAKE PROJECT". IsDB Project Database. Islamic Development Bank. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  5. ↑ "Projet d'aménagement hydro-agricole de la cuvette du lac R'Kiz" [Hydro-agricultural development project for the R’Kiz lake basin]. The Food Crisis Prevention Network (in French). Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  6. ↑ Aidara. "L'esclavage agricole aux bords du Lac R'Kiz, en Mauritanie" [Agricultural slavery on the shores of Lake R’Kiz, Mauritania]. Thaqafa (in French). Retrieved 19 July 2020.


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