Lake Chad in the Sahel region of Africa

Lake Chad in the Sahel region of Africa. Today’s Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features Lake Chad, a shallow endorheic lake in Africa that has varied in size over the centuries. 

Over the last several decades, the lake has shrunk dramatically due to an increase in demand and a decrease in rainfall. Lake Chad in the Sahel region of Africa

Lake Chad is located in the Sahel, which serves as a transition zone between the Sahara to the north and the Sudanian savanna to the south. Africa straddles the Equator and encompasses numerous climate areas; it is the only continent to stretch from the northern temperate to southern temperate zones.

The lake is the primary source of water for more than 60 million people in four countries: Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria. The fresh water also supports irrigation, animals, fishing, and economic activity in west-central Africa. The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The continent includes Madagascar and various archipelagos. It contains 54 fully recognised sovereign states (countries), eight territories and two de facto independent states with limited or no recognition. Algeria is Africa’s largest country by area, and Nigeria is its largest by population. African nations cooperate through the establishment of the African Union, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa.

Image Credit: ESA 

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer