Lake Guinas is the larger of only two permanent natural lakes in Namibia. It is a sinkhole lake, created by a collapsing karst cave,[1] located thirty-eight kilometres west of Tsumeb, near the D3043 road.

Lake Guinas
Lake Guinas is located in Namibia
Lake Guinas
Lake Guinas
Coordinates19°13′59″S 17°21′10″E / 19.232918°S 17.352648°E / -19.232918; 17.352648
Basin countriesNamibia
Surface area0.66 ha (1.6 acres)[1]
Average depth105 m (344 ft)
Max. depth130 m (430 ft)
Water volume693,000 m3 (562 acre⋅ft)
Surface elevation1,250 m (4,100 ft)

Lake Guinas is home to Tilapia guinasana, a critically endangered species of cichlid fish, endemic to this lake, but at some stage introduced to Guinas' sister lake, Lake Otjikoto, as well as into a few farm dams nearby.[2] The claim that lake Guinas is indeed connected to lake Otjikoto by caves is frequently made but not proven as yet.[1]

The lake is situated on private farmland but can be visited with the permission of the owner.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Irish, John (1991). "Conservation aspects of karst waters in Namibia". Madoqua. 17 (2): 141–146.
  2. ^ Tilapia guinasana The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Tilapia guinasana