List of lakes in Nigeria and their locations in 2026
While Oguta Lake, Iyake Lake, and Lake Chad are among the most popular lakes in Nigeria, there are many other lakes in this country that you might not have heard of. These water bodies are crucial for the country's water security, agricultural irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and tourism potential. Their locations are also vital for fishing, transportation, local economies, and ecological research.
Source: UGC
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Key takeaways
- There are over 100 small lakes and several major ones scattered across Nigeria.
- The country has 16 officially recognized major lakes, according to World Atlas.
- Most lakes on the Nigerian map are concentrated around the Chad Basin in the northeast, the Niger Delta, and various man-made reservoirs.
List of lakes in Nigeria and their locations
According to the World Atlas report on African lakes, Nigeria has approximately 16 officially recognized major lakes. Below is a list of more than 50 lakes in Nigeria and where they are located:
Number | Lake | Location |
1. | Adale Lake | Borno State |
2. | Beli-Yelba Lake | Taraba State |
3. | Bob Erie Lake | Abia State |
4. | Dandi Lake | Jigawa State |
5. | Ebean Lake | Abia State |
6. | Ehoma Lake | Cross River State |
7. | Egbe Reservoir | Ekiti State |
8. | Egwebe Lake | Abia State |
9. | Ekwo Lake | Abia State, near Ebean Lake |
10. | Gahri Lake | Borno State |
11. | Iyieke Lake | Ebonyi State, close to Ndibe Beach |
12. | Jebba Dam | Kwara State |
13. | Kainji Lake | Part of Niger State and Kebbi State |
14. | Lagos Lagoon | Lagos State |
15. | Lekki Lagoon | Between Lagos and Ogun State |
16. | Lake Alau | Borno State, next to Lake Alo |
17. | Lake Alo | Borno State |
18. | Lake Asejire | Oyo State |
19. | Lake Bimari | Taraba State |
20. | Lake Budunga | Taraba State |
21. | Lake Chad | Part of Nigeria, Cameroon, and Niger |
22. | Lake Dadin Kowa | Gombe State |
23. | Lake Dakwat | Jigawa State |
24. | Lake Dampa | Taraba State |
25. | Lake Dulum | Adamawa State |
26. | Lake Ebe | Delta State |
27. | Lake Falai | Adamawa State |
28. | Lake Fena | Sokoto State |
29. | Lake Garambula | Adamawa State |
30. | Lake Gbundu | Taraba State |
31. | Lake Gergbakai | Adamawa State |
32. | Lake Geriyo | Adamawa State |
33. | Lake Gokra | Adamawa State |
34. | Lake Gwadabawa | Sokoto State |
35. | Lake Halatu | Adamawa State |
36. | Lake Ibini | Abia State |
37. | Lake Ikana | Abia State |
38. | Lake Jena | Sokoto State |
39. | Lake Ji | Taraba State |
40. | Lake Kalmalo | Sokoto State |
41. | Lake Karadon | Adamawa State |
42. | Lake Kitikiti | Adamawa State |
43. | Lake Kiye | Jigawa State |
44. | Lake Kobaje | Taraba State |
45. | Lake Ku | Taraba State |
46. | Lake Kurjeje | Taraba State |
47. | Lake Labe | Taraba State |
48. | Lake Maladumba | Bauchi State |
49. | Lake Matansarki | Taraba State |
50. | Lake Mazafara | Sokoto State |
51. | Lake Mbeilashan | Taraba State |
52. | Lake Natu | Sokoto State |
53. | Lake Ndakalowu | Kwara State close to Lafiagi |
54. | Lake Njiddawo | Taraba State |
55. | Lake Nyunkun | Taraba State |
56. | Lake Padaro (also known as Lake Paida) | Adamawa State |
57. | Lake Peu | Taraba State |
58. | Lake Shisha | Taraba State |
59. | Lake Ukwa | Cross River State |
60. | Lake Wam | Adamawa State |
61. | Lake Yimirdiva | Borno State |
62. | Lake Zaru | Sokoto State |
63. | Langido Lake | Kebbi State |
64. | Marmi Lake | Taraba State |
65. | Ngyassala Lake | Adamawa State |
66. | Oguta Lake | Imo State |
67. | Oku Lake | Benue State |
68. | Ologe Lagoon | Lagos State near Ikotun and Ibiku |
69. | Oluge Lagoon | Lagos State next to Ologe Lagoon |
70. | Osiam Lake | Anambra State close to Osiam and Egbu |
71. | Shiroro Dam | Niger State |
72. | Tabkin Oga | Nassarawa State |
73. | Tiga Dam | Kano State |
74. | Tila Lake | Borno State |
75. | Tombo Lake | Edo State |
76. | Toidi Lake | Sokoto State |
77. | Wullum Lake | Adamawa State |
What are the major lakes in Nigeria?
The top 10 lakes in Nigeria include:
- Lake Chad (Borno State): It is shared between Nigeria and neighboring countries and is significantly affected by climate change.
- Kainji Lake (Niger/Kwara State): This artificial lake was created by the Kainji Dam and is important for power generation and fishing.
- Oguta Lake (Imo State): The largest natural lake in Southeast Nigeria, characterized by its two merging, distinctively colored rivers.
- Agulu Lake (Anambra State): It is popular for its scenic beauty and rich local cultural myths.
- Lake Ado-Awaye/Iyake Lake (Oyo State): It is a rare suspended lake located on the Ado-Awaye Mountains.
- Nike Lake (Enugu State): It is a quiet resort lake located near Enugu town.
- Eleyele Lake (Oyo State): This is a man-made lake located in Ibadan, used for fishing and water supply.
- Abadaba Lake (Imo State): This is a natural lake in the eastern part of the country.
- Lake Alau (Borno State): This water reservoir is located in Konduga LGA.
- Obutu Lake (Anambra State): This is a smaller, scenic lake found in Ndikelionwu.
What is the name of the largest lake in Nigeria?
Oguta Lake, approximately 8.05 km long and 2.41 km wide, is the largest natural lake in Nigeria. While Lake Chad is significantly larger, it is shared between Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. Oguta is the largest natural lake located entirely within Nigeria's borders.
The famous Oguta Lake was used as a battlefield/bunker site during the Nigerian Civil War and currently serves as a major tourist attraction, water source, and fishing hub.
Located in Imo State in the southeastern part of the country, this "finger lake" was formed by the damming of the lower Njaba River. It is famous for having two distinct, non-mixing colors (green/brown) from the confluence of the Urashi and Ogbuide rivers.
Source: Twitter
What are the natural lakes in Nigeria?
Nigeria features several natural lakes, including:
- Lake Chad (Borno State): This massive, shared, shallow lake provides water for millions across Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
- Oguta Lake (Imo State): It is the largest natural lake in southeastern Nigeria and is known for the confluence of the blue-colored Oguta Lake and the muddy Orashi River, which flow side-by-side without mixing.
- Iyake Lake (Oyo State): Located in Ado-Awaye, this is the only suspended lake in Africa and one of only two in the world.
- Nike Lake (Enugu State): This serene lake in Enugu is popular for tourism.
- Agulu Lake (Anambra State): Formed by erosion, this lake is known for its large population of crocodiles and turtles.
Which lake in Nigeria is man-made?
There are several significant artificial lakes in Nigeria, created primarily for electricity, water supply, and irrigation. Some notable man-made lakes in Nigeria include:
- Kainji Lake (Niger/Kwara State): It was created in 1968 by the Kainji Dam on the Niger River and is the largest artificial lake in Nigeria.
- Jabi Lake (Abuja): This reservoir was created in 1981 to supply water to Abuja, now used for recreation.
- Lamingo Dam (Plateau State): This is located in Jos and is used for water supply and recreational activities.
- Chala/Galma Dam (Kaduna State): The reservoir is used for water supply and irrigation.
- Shiroro Lake (Niger State): The lake was formed by the Shiroro Hydroelectric Dam.
- Tiga Lake/Dam (Kano State): It is a major reservoir for irrigation and water supply.
- Oyan Lake (Ogun State): The lake was created by the Oyan River Dam for water supply and power generation.
How many dams do we have in Nigeria and their locations?
Nigeria has 323 large, medium, and small dams constructed across various states for electricity, irrigation, and water supply. Some of the large dams in the country are:
Dam | Location |
Ede-Erinle Reservoir | Osun State |
Asejire Reservoir | Oyo State |
Bakolori Dam | Sokoto State |
Challawa Gorge Dam | Kano State |
Dadin Kowa Dam | Gombe State |
Goronyo Dam | Sokoto State |
Ikere Gorge Dam | Oyo State |
Jebba Dam | Niger State |
Jibiya Dam | Katsina State |
Kafin Zaki Dam | Bauchi State |
Kainji Dam | Niger State |
Kiri Dam | Adamawa State |
Oyan River Dam | Ogun State |
Shiroro Dam | Niger State |
Tiga Dam | Kano State |
Zauro polder project | Kebbi State |
Zobe Dam | Katsina State |
What are the major rivers of Nigeria?
The main rivers in Nigeria are the Niger River and the Benue River. They confluence at Lokoja to form a Y-shape that splits the country into three. The Niger River is the longest (approx. 4,180 km total), while the Benue is its largest tributary. Other significant rivers include the Kaduna, Cross, Gongola, and Sokoto rivers.
Where are the 5 largest lakes located?
The five largest lakes by surface area are the Caspian Sea (Asia/Europe), Lake Superior (North America), Lake Victoria (Africa), Lake Huron (North America), and Lake Michigan (North America).
Fun facts about lakes in Nigeria
- Oguta Lake has two rivers—Ogbuide and Urashi—that flow side-by-side but never mix, believed to represent a wife and husband.
- The Iyake Lake is believed to be bottomless and was believed to cure barrenness.
- The Okposi Salt Lake was a vital source of salt during the Nigerian Civil War.
- During the Nigerian Civil War, Oguta Lake served as a strategic naval base for Biafran forces.
- Agulu Lake is home to an estimated 300 sacred crocodiles and water turtles. Killing these animals is forbidden, as they are believed to have protected the town during the Nigerian Civil War.
Lakes in Nigeria act as critical hubs for economic development, biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and tourism, while also serving as indicators for environmental health and climate change impact. Knowing their locations is essential information for travelers, investors, environmentalists, and researchers studying Nigeria's geography, agriculture, and tourism potential.
Legit.ng shared a list of the highest mountains in Nigeria. Most major mountains are located in the eastern states of Taraba, Adamawa, and Plateau. These regions contain major highlands, including the Chappal Waddi in Taraba near the Cameroon border.
Chappal Waddi (the highest point in Nigeria and West Africa) is Nigeria's highest mountain at 2,419 meters (7,936 feet). Also known as Gangirwal or the "Mountain of Death," it is part of the Gashaka-Gumti National Park and holds the title of the highest peak in West Africa.
Source: Legit.ng
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Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Legit.ng where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com
