Lake Guinas
19°13′59″S 17°21′10″E / 19.232918°S 17.352648°E / -19.232918; 17.352648Basin countries Namibia Surface area 0.66 ha (1.6 acres)[1] Average depth 105 m (344 ft) Max. depth 130 m (430 ft) Water volume 693,000 m3 (562 acre⋅ft) Surface elevation 1,250 m (4,100 ft)
Lake Guinas is the larger of only two permanent natural lakes in Namibia. It is a sinkhole lake, created by a collapsing karst cave,[1] located thirty-eight kilometres west of Tsumeb, near the D3043 road.
Lake Guinas is home to Tilapia guinasana, a critically endangered species of cichlid fish, endemic to this lake, but at some stage introduced to Guinas' sister lake, Lake Otjikoto, as well as into a few farm dams nearby.[2] The claim that lake Guinas is indeed connected to lake Otjikoto by caves is frequently made but not proven as yet.[1]
The lake is situated on private farmland but can be visited with the permission of the owner.
References
- ^ a b c Irish, John (1991). "Conservation aspects of karst waters in Namibia". Madoqua. 17 (2): 141–146.
- ^ Tilapia guinasana The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Tilapia guinasana
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