Lake Barombi, Cameroon

Lake Barombi, Cameroon 

Lake Barombi Koto, also known as Lake Barombi Kotto or Lake Barombi-ba-Kotto, is a small lake in the volcanic chain in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. It is a volcanic lake with a diameter of about 1.2km. There is a small island in the middle, which is densely inhabited by the Barombi, a tribe of fishers.

The Tung Nsuia and Tung Nsuria streams, each about 1- wide and 0.3m deep near their mouth, are the only inflows into the lake, and they dry out in dry season.BiologyLake Barombi Koto often appears green-brown because it is rich in phytoplankton. Invertebrates, turtles and the aquatic frog Xenopus tropicalis are common in the lake, which is also an important sanctuary for birds.

Seven fish species are known from the lake, including Enteromius callipterus and a Clarias catfish, while the remaining all are cichlids: Coptodon kottae, Chromidotilapia guentheri, Hemichromis fasciatus, Pelmatolapia mariae and Sarotherodon galilaeus. Of these, C. guentheri is represented by the endemic subspecies loennbergi, while C. kottae is entirely endemic to this lake and the smaller Lake Mboandong. Both endemics are threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, and “turning” of the lake’s water because of deforestation of the surroundings

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