Lake Sulunga
Lake Sulunga | |
---|---|
Location | Dodoma Region, Tanzania |
Coordinates | 6°5′S 35°11′E / 6.083°S 35.183°E |
Primary inflows | Bubu |
Primary outflows | endorheic |
Settlements | Chala |
Lake Sulunga, also known as Bahi Swamp, is a shallow seasonal lake in central Tanzania on the border of the Dodoma and Singida regions.
It is located about 45 km west of the capital Dodoma in an endorheic basin known as the Bahi depression. It lies at an altitude of 830 metres (2,720 ft) and has a maximum extent of 974 kilometres (605 mi). The catchment area is 23,447 square kilometres (9,053 sq mi). The lake is about 42 kilometres (26 mi) long and 26 kilometres (16 mi) wide, but can completely disappear in dry years. Its main tributaries are the Bubu and the Mponde.
The lake is surrounded by a variety of settlements and plays an important role in local fishing and animal husbandry.[1]
The lake is in danger of being severely affected by mining in the future, as the area is evidently home to uranium, gold and probably diamonds.[2]