Lake Rkiz

Trarza Region, Mauritania

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Lake Rkiz, also known as Lake R'Kiz or historically as Lake Cayor, is an ephemeral lake in southern Mauritania covering about 12,970 hectares. It is primarily fed by surplus water from the Senegal River, which causes the lake's size to fluctuate widely during the rainy season, reaching up to 34 kilometers in length and 8 to 9 kilometers in width, with depths up to around 4.3 meters.

The lake and its surrounding marshlands support diverse ecosystems with reeds, various species of snakes, small mammals like otters and mongooses, and slender-snouted crocodiles. It is recognized as an Important Bird Area for several bird species, including western swamphens and northern pintails.

The local communities rely on the lake for fishing and agriculture, though water management and irrigation efforts have impacted fish yields in recent decades. Lake Rkiz remains a vital natural and economic resource in the Trarza region of Mauritania.