Kainji Lake

Kainji Lake, reservoir on the Niger River in western Nigeria. It is formed by Kainji Dam, a hydroelectric facility that was built from 1964 to 1968. Kainji Lake is about 135 km (about 84 mi) long and 30 km (20 mi) across at its widest point.

The creation of the reservoir forced about 44,000 people to be resettled. New villages were constructed of sandcrete, a material resembling cinder block. The designs were based on the adobe villages of the Gungawa, Hausa, and Kamberi peoples. The towns of Bussa, Wara, and Yelwa were moved and rebuilt in this manner. New Bussa was the construction center for the dam and grew rapidly after its completion.

Farmers near Kainji Lake irrigate their crops with water from the reservoir. Fishing takes place from plank boats, and fish taken from the reservoir and then smoked is traded throughout Nigeria. Two sections of Kainji Lake National Park border the reservoir. Antelope, buffalo, hippopotamus, lion, and a variety of primates are the major attractions of the park, which draws about 5000 visitors yearly.