Lake Oponona

Lake Oponona (Ndonga: the one that swallowed up all the water) is a natural lake in the Uuvudhiya Constituency in the Oshana Region of northern Namibia. It is situated about 70 kilometres (43 mi) from Etosha Pan and is the largest lake in the Cuvelai Basin.

Lake Oponona
Location	Namibia
Coordinates	18.13°S 15.76°E / -18.13; 15.76
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Etosha Pan, Lake Oponono & Cuvelai drainage
Designated	August 23, 1995
Reference no.	745[1]

A Blue Crane, a species of bird that migrates to Lake Oponona when other wetlands dry up

It holds water up to the following rainy season in a prosperous year. Because the lake maintains water for a long time a number of birds like flamingos and others temporarily move there, when the oshanas (flood plains), swamps, and other wetlands dry up.^[2]

During the 2012/2013 drought Lake Oponona shrank by more than 500 metres (1,600 ft) due to thousands of cattle that were moved there to drink.^[3]

There is also Oponona River situated at Oniizimba village of Ompundja Constituency.^[4]

References

1. "Etosha Pan, Lake Oponono & Cuvelai drainage". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
2. Shigwedha, Absolom (7 January 2007). "Lake Oponona a Lifeline in the North". The Namibian. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
3. Shaanika, Helvy (30 August 2013). "Stricken Cattle Threaten Lake". New Era. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
4. Shaanika, Helvy (30 March 2011). "Massive Destruction in the North". New Era. Retrieved 30 November 2011.