Lake Sonfon
Encyclopedia
Lake Sonfon, also known as Lake Confon, is a fresh water mountain lake in Diang
, Sierra Leone
of religious and cultural significance. The nearest towns are Kabala
that is 60km to the north and Benugu that is 40 km to the south. It is located in the hills of the Sula Mountains at an altitude of 549 m (1,801.2 ft) above sea level. Sonfon drains from its southern end, which forms the start of the Pampana River, and is fed by seven small streams with its water level varying considerably during the year. The Lake has a maximum depth of 8 m (26.2 ft) and with an area of 8.2 km² (3.2 sq mi) is Sierra Leone's largest inland lake.
Gold
deposits are found in the rocks of Lake Sonfon and in alluvial deposits in the area. Only the alluvial deposits are being worked employing 15,000 miners around the Lake. This mining is causing the level of water in the lake to decrease.
Although the Sonfon is not well surveyed 105 species of birds have been identified at the lake including the Iris Glossy-starling
, the Dybowski's Twinspot
, the Splendid Sunbird
, the Red-faced Pytilia
and the Pied-winged Swallow
. Animals that live at the lake include endangered Pygmy Hippopotamus
, Black Duiker
s and Maxwell's Duiker
s. In the dry season the lake is completely covered with vegetation. The hill environment around the lake consist of forests, wooded savanah, grassland and farmbush. The Lake is a key conservation area and a proposed protected area
but as of 2011 there is no protection in place.
Lake Sonfon is considered sacred in traditional belief with local people carrying out cultural ceremonies along its shore. Offerings, including rice and food, are floated into the lake on calabash
es. In traditional belief the lake is symbolically intermittent, as well as being intermittent in terms of the amount of water in the dry season and a powerful Djinn lives in the lake.
Diang, Sierra Leone
Diang is a chiefdom in Koinadugu District of Sierra Leone with a population of 19,700. Its principal town is Kondembaia. Lake Sonfon is located in the chiefdom an inland mountain lake of religious and cultural significance....
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
of religious and cultural significance. The nearest towns are Kabala
Kabala, Sierra Leone
Kabala is the capital and largest town of Koinadugu District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone, with a population of 14,108 in the 2004 census, and a current estimate of 18,770 Kabala is one of the main cities in northern Sierra Leone and is set in a rural landscape...
that is 60km to the north and Benugu that is 40 km to the south. It is located in the hills of the Sula Mountains at an altitude of 549 m (1,801.2 ft) above sea level. Sonfon drains from its southern end, which forms the start of the Pampana River, and is fed by seven small streams with its water level varying considerably during the year. The Lake has a maximum depth of 8 m (26.2 ft) and with an area of 8.2 km² (3.2 sq mi) is Sierra Leone's largest inland lake.
Gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
deposits are found in the rocks of Lake Sonfon and in alluvial deposits in the area. Only the alluvial deposits are being worked employing 15,000 miners around the Lake. This mining is causing the level of water in the lake to decrease.
Although the Sonfon is not well surveyed 105 species of birds have been identified at the lake including the Iris Glossy-starling
Iris Glossy-starling
The Iris Glossy-starling, Coccycolius iris, is also known as the Emerald Starling. It is a small starling with a metallic green crown, upper body, wings and tail. The ear-coverts and underparts are metallic purple. Both sexes are similar...
, the Dybowski's Twinspot
Dybowski's Twinspot
The Dybowski's Twinspot is a common species of estrildid finch found in Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 450,000 km²....
, the Splendid Sunbird
Splendid Sunbird
The Splendid Sunbird, Cinnyris coccinigaster , is a sunbird. The sunbirds are a group of very small Old World passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young.Their flight is fast and direct on short wings...
, the Red-faced Pytilia
Red-faced Pytilia
The Yellow-winged Pytilia , also known as the Red-faced Pytilia, is an African estrildid finch. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 250,000 km²....
and the Pied-winged Swallow
Pied-winged Swallow
The Pied-winged Swallow is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family.It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo....
. Animals that live at the lake include endangered Pygmy Hippopotamus
Pygmy Hippopotamus
The pygmy hippopotamus is a large mammal native to the forests and swamps of western Africa . The pygmy hippo is reclusive and nocturnal...
, Black Duiker
Black Duiker
Black duiker is a forest dwelling duiker found in the southern parts of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Benin and Nigeria....
s and Maxwell's Duiker
Maxwell's Duiker
Maxwell's Duiker , is a small antelope found in western Africa.They grow to 30 inches in length with a typical shoulder height of 14.5–16 inches and weigh around 11 pounds . Its coat is either grey-brown or grey, with a white underbelly and white markings on its face...
s. In the dry season the lake is completely covered with vegetation. The hill environment around the lake consist of forests, wooded savanah, grassland and farmbush. The Lake is a key conservation area and a proposed protected area
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
but as of 2011 there is no protection in place.
Lake Sonfon is considered sacred in traditional belief with local people carrying out cultural ceremonies along its shore. Offerings, including rice and food, are floated into the lake on calabash
Calabash
Lagenaria siceraria , bottle gourd, opo squash or long melon is a vine grown for its fruit, which can either be harvested young and used as a vegetable, or harvested mature, dried, and used as a bottle, utensil, or pipe. For this reason, the calabash is widely known as the bottle gourd...
es. In traditional belief the lake is symbolically intermittent, as well as being intermittent in terms of the amount of water in the dry season and a powerful Djinn lives in the lake.