Type Crater lake Basin countries Cameroon Max depth 111 m Area 5 km² Outflow location Mungo River, Cameroon | Primary outflows Mungo River Average depth 69 metres (226 ft) Surface elevation 300 m Mean depth 69 m | |
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Surface area 5 square kilometres (1.9 sq mi)
or
7 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi) Official name Barombi Mbo Crater Lake | ||
Lake Barombi Mbo or Barombi-ma-Mbu is a lake near Kumba in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. It is located in the Cameroon volcanic chain, and is the largest volcanic lake in this region. It is one of the oldest radiocarbon-dated lakes in Africa. On old colonial maps the area was known as Elefanten Sea (Elephant Lake), but the elephants living in the area were extirpated due to ivory trading.
Map of Lake Barombi Mbo, Cameroon
Until now, 15 species of fishes have been recorded from the lake. Among others, this includes a member of the Barbus aboinensis group, a member of the Fundulopanchax mirabilis group, and the endemic catfish Clarias maclareni. Perhaps most noteworthy are the 11 species of cichlids that are endemic to the lake (Konia spp., Stomatepia spp., Myaka myaka, Pungu maclareni, Sarotherodon caroli, S. linnellii, S. lohbergeri, and S. steinbachi), and likely the results of sympatric speciation. All the endemics are seriously threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos). Commercial fishing is forbidden in the lake. Additionally, the lake has an endemic species of sponge (Corvospongilla thysi), and an endemic species of shrimp (Caridina sp.).