Lake Sélingué, lake in Mali
Lake Sélingué is a large artificial reservoir in the Sikasso region created by damming the Sankarani River. The water spreads across a broad basin with extensive shorelines and serves multiple purposes including electricity generation, irrigation, and fishing.
The lake was created several decades ago when a dam was built on the Sankarani River to generate electricity and manage water resources for the region. Since then, settlements have grown around the water and the landscape has been reshaped by this infrastructure.
The name reflects the local region and language of the area. Communities have formed around the water, where fishing, farming, and daily water use shape how people live and work together.
The lake is accessible from several villages along its shores in the Sikasso region. Water levels vary with the seasons, dropping during dry periods and rising when rains come, which affects how the shoreline looks and how easily you can move around.
The southwestern part of the lake forms a border between Mali and Guinea, making it a shared resource that requires cooperation between the two countries. This shared water body has become a place where local groups work together to manage fishing and water use.
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