Bakolori Dam, Embankment dam in Sokoto State, Nigeria.
Bakolori Dam is an embankment dam in Sokoto State, Nigeria, stretching 360 meters and standing 48 meters high. The structure holds about 450 million cubic meters of water and includes a hydroelectric power facility generating 3.2MW.
Construction started in 1974 and finished in 1978, with the reservoir filling by 1981. The project was built to support irrigation and water supply for the surrounding region.
The area was once home to farmers who grew rice, sorghum, and vegetables along the riverbank using seasonal flooding patterns. This farming way shaped how people lived and worked before the dam changed the landscape.
The site is relatively open to visitors, though nearby infrastructure is basic. It is best visited during the dry season when water levels are more stable and access routes are easier to navigate.
The reservoir water is quite murky and lacks the aquatic plants that fish need to survive. This challenge shows how water quality affects the ecosystem in unexpected ways.
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