Lake Chad

Lake Chad, largest lake in west central Africa, fourth largest on the African continent. Lake Chad lies within the boundaries of 4 African nations: Chad (containing the major portion of the lake), Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger. Its shallow basin, approximately 22 ft (7 m) at the deepest, allows easy overflow into surrounding areas. The size of the lake fluctuates depending on the season, the volume of water received from inflowing rivers, and the rate of evaporation.