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Lake Manyara situation less promisingBy Valentine Marc Nkwame Despite the recent rains the situation of Lake Manyara is far from being promising. Only about 40 percent of the previously dried up lake has so far been restored with water. The lake which is a home to approximately, 200 Hippos and over 3 million flamingoes turned into a dry-hot, chalky basin, following a prolonged drought in the area.. Late last year the drought situation in Lake Manyara proved to be catastrophic. Buffalos, Elephants and other land mammals took over the Hippos natural habitat in what used to be Lake Manyara, after the water body had dried up between August and November 2004. According to the Manyara National park Ecologist, Emilian Kihwele, the recent short rains, have made it possible for the Hippos to return to their natural habitat in the lake. The animals had been forced out of the lake by the drought and their place in the lake taken over by other land mammals such as elephants and buffaloes. Kihwele said so far most of the Hippos have resumed their habitat and land animals have moved from the basin to the park wilderness. He revealed that as a result of the short rains that fell between November last year and early this year, a large section of Lake Manyara is so far covered with fresh water, but other local experts explains that, for the water body to be completely back to its original form, it may take the forthcoming April long rains. "Late last year, about 220- square kilometer water body of Lake Manyara where we used to refer to as "Hippos natural habitat", was completely dried up, leaving a large, dry and hot chalky-basin," he explained. Lake Manyara highly depends on rainfalls as well as receiving water from the three seasonal rivers namely; Simba, Mto-wa-mbu and Kirurumo, that flow into the park then join to form the Hippo pool. Others rivers are Mikindu, Nyoka, Msasa, Hendara, Endabash,
Iyambi, Bagayo, Kieri, Dagaa, Magala, kiongozi, Dudumera, Heri and Makuyuni, but
these are not very much dependable. In 1961 the lake dried up completely, yet just one year later, in 1962, it flooded the area. In 1998 the lake over flooded again, due to the El-Nino rain spell, yet in 1999 the Lake almost dried up completely. In this area of rainfall extremes, the forests and plants find
an alternative water supply that sustains them – underground springs that
surface at the base of the cliffs. With 330 square km has a wedge of surprisingly varied vegetation sustaining a wealth of wildlife, nourished by chattering streams bubbling out of the escarpment base and water falls spilling over the cliff. Cradled in the glory of its surroundings bellow the sheer majesty of the rift valley wall, Lake Manyara lies serene, spreading in a heat haze backed by a thin green band forest and the sheer 600 meter red and brown cliffs of the escarpment.
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