Lake Opeta
| Lake Opeta | |
|---|---|
| Location | Nakapiripirit, Sironko, Katakwi, Kumi |
| Coordinates | 1°42′0″N 34°14′0″E / 1.70000°N 34.23333°E |
| Primary outflows | Lake Bisina |
| Basin countries | Uganda |
| Surface area | 68,912 hectares (170,290 acres) |
| Surface elevation | 1,962 metres (6,437 ft) |
| Islands | Tisai |
| Designated | September 15, 2006 [1] |
| Lake Opeta | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Coordinates | 01°42′N 34°14′E / 1.700°N 34.233°ECoordinates: 01°42′N 34°14′E / 1.700°N 34.233°E |
| Area | 68,912 hectares (170,290 acres) |
| Established | 2006 [2] |
| Governing body | District Government |
Lake Opeta is a lake with an extensive wetland system in Uganda.
The wetland lies south of the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve and serves as a dry-season refuge for both wildlife from the park and domestic cattle of the surrounding Karamajong and Pokot people.[2]
Hydrology
Lake Opeta is primarily fed by rainfall on Mount Elgon and drains into Lake Kyoga via Lake Bisina. It is surrounded by an extensive swamp and floodplain.[3]
Conservation
Lake Opeta is one of Uganda's 33 Important Bird Areas and since 2006 a Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance.[2]
A Biodiversity and Eco-Tourism Centre funded by the Global Environmental Facility and UNDP serves the lake.[4]
Birds
Fox's weaver, Uganda's only endemic bird species, is known to inhabit the wetland,[2] as do the globally threatened vulnerable shoebill, near-threatened papyrus gonolek, and 160 other species.[3]
References
- ↑ "Ramsar List". Ramsar.org. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. "The Annotated Ramsar List: Uganda". Retrieved 28 June 2012.
- 1 2 Byaruhanga, Achilles; Kigolo, Stephen (2005). Lake Opeta Wetland System Ramsar Information Sheet (PDF). Kampala.
- ↑ International Union for Conservation of Nature. "Commissioned in the Lake Opeta Ramsar Site". Retrieved 28 June 2012.