Q. Which one of the following lakes of West Africa has become dry and turned into a desert?

Explanation : 

Factors Contributing to the Drying of Lake Faguibine

Several factors have contributed to the drying of Lake Faguibine:

1. Climate Change: The Sahel region, where Lake Faguibine is located, has been subject to prolonged periods of drought since the late 20th century. Climate change has exacerbated these conditions, leading to reduced rainfall and higher temperatures, which increase evaporation rates.

2. Water Management: Upstream water management, including the construction of dams and irrigation systems, has altered the natural flow of the Niger River. This has reduced the amount of water reaching Lake Faguibine and other lakes in the region.

3. Overuse of Resources: The increasing demand for agricultural land and water for irrigation has led to the overuse of the limited water resources available, further depleting the lake.

4. Desertification: The process of desertification in the region, partly due to human activities such as overgrazing and deforestation, has also contributed to the drying of the lake.

As a result of these factors, Lake Faguibine has shrunk significantly, and large portions of the lakebed have become dry, leading to the loss of aquatic habitats, affecting local biodiversity, and impacting the livelihoods of the communities that depend on the lake for fishing, agriculture, and livestock.

In contrast to Lake Faguibine, the other lakes listed—Lake Victoria, Lake Oguta, and Lake Volta—have not experienced the same level of drying and desertification. Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes and is the largest lake in Africa by area. Lake Oguta is a smaller lake in Nigeria, and Lake Volta is a large reservoir in Ghana formed by the Akosombo Dam on the Volta River. These lakes continue to hold significant amounts of water, although they may face their own environmental challenges.