Kainji Lake, reservoir in Nigeria
Kainji Lake is a large reservoir in northwestern Nigeria, straddling Niger State and Kebbi State along the Niger River. It was formed by damming the Niger River and features forested shores, scattered islands, and open water stretching across a broad plain.
The Kainji Dam was built in the 1960s as one of Nigeria's first major infrastructure projects after independence, flooding a large stretch of the Niger River valley. The construction displaced tens of thousands of people from their villages, which were submerged beneath the rising water.
The area around the lake is best reached from the nearby town of New Bussa, which serves as the main access point for visitors. Traveling during the dry season makes movement along the shores easier, as unpaved tracks can become difficult in wet conditions.
When the dam was built, an entirely new town called New Bussa had to be constructed to resettle people from the old town of Bussa, which now lies submerged beneath the lake. The flooded ruins of the original settlement are still there under the water, along with dozens of other former villages.
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