Lake Akfadou, also known as Black Lake, is situated within the

Djurdjura Mountains The Djurdjura (Berber: ''Adrar n Jerjer','' ) is a mountain range of the Tell Atlas, part of the Atlas Mountain System. It is located in Kabylie, Algeria. Geography The Djurdjura is a massif made up of two differentiated ranges, one in the north ...

, within the boundaries of the

Djurdjura National Park The national park of Djurdjura () is one of the national parks of Algeria. It is located in Kabylie and is named after the Djurdjura Range of the Tell Atlas. Description Nearby cities include Tizi Ouzou to the north and Bouïra to the south ...

. It is located between the

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

n provinces of

Tizi Ouzou Tizi Ouzou or Thizi Wezzu (, Kabyle: Tizi Wezzu) is a city in north central Algeria, and capital of Tizi Ouzou Province and Tizi Ouzou District. It is among the largest cities in Algeria. It is the second most populous city in the Kabylia reg ...

and

Béjaïa Béjaïa ( ; , , ), formerly known as Bougie and Bugia, is a Mediterranean seaport, port city and communes of Algeria, commune on the Gulf of Béjaïa in Algeria; it is the capital of Béjaïa Province. Geography Location Béjaïa owes its ...

Overview

The Black Lake, locally known in

Berber Berber or Berbers may refer to: Ethnic group * Berbers, an ethnic group native to Northern Africa * Berber languages, a family of Afro-Asiatic languages Places * Berber, Sudan, a town on the Nile People with the surname * Ady Berber (1913–196 ...

as "Oqlimim Afrakan", is situated in the Akfadou Forest, in close proximity to National Road 34. It is notable for its abundance of

oak trees An oak is a hardwood tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' of the beech family. They have spirally arranged leaves, often with lobed edges, and a nut called an acorn, borne within a cup. The genus is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisp ...

. Oqlimim Afrakan is situated at an altitude of 1,200 meters and is a popular destination for nature-loving tourists seeking a tranquil escape from city life. The 3-hectare lake, with an area of 3 hectares and a depth of approximately 1 meter, reflecting a multitude of colors. These include sky blue, white from the clouds, and dark green from the oak trees that surround it from all sides. An artificial barrier has been constructed on one side of the lake in order to maintain a specific water level. The presence of trees that have become partially submerged in the lake. Vehicles, including cars and minibuses, are parked in the vicinity of the lake following their use in transporting tourists from neighboring states who come to picnic at its edges. Families, groups of friends, and pedestrians seek respite from the heat under the shade of trees in the area. There are also jumping frogs that inhabit the area. A tree trunk that has fallen into the water holds a giant lizard that visitors call a "dinosaur." This is one of the myths of Oqlimim Afrakan. The

archaeological Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...

site of the village of Mahaqa, which dates back to the

Roman era In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman people, Roman civilisation from the founding of Rome, founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, collapse of the Western Roman Em ...

or an even older era, locally called "Akham Ojhali", represents an archaeological and historical curiosity whose secrets remain to be uncovered by scientists.

Characteristics

Ecological diversity

Trees

A diverse array of arboreal species flourishes in the vicinity of Lake Akfadou. File:Abies numidica 02 by Line1.jpg, Abies numidica File:Picea abies.jpg,

Fir Firs are evergreen coniferous trees belonging to the genus ''Abies'' () in the family Pinaceae. There are approximately 48–65 extant species, found on mountains throughout much of North and Central America, Eurasia, and North Africa. The genu ...

File:Pinus sylvestris Glenmuick.jpg,

Pinus sylvestris ''Pinus sylvestris'', the Scots pine (UK), Scotch pine (US), Baltic pine, or European red pine is a species of tree in the pine family Pinaceae that is native plant, native to Eurasia. It can readily be identified by its combination of fairly s ...

File:Pins d'alep.jpeg,

Pinus halepensis ''Pinus halepensis'', commonly known as the Aleppo pine, also known as the Jerusalem pine, is a pine native to the Mediterranean region. It was officially named by the botanist Philip Miller in his 1768 book ''The Gardener's Dictionary''; he pro ...

File:Forest in Bulgaria near Dundukovo dam.jpg,

Pinus nigra ''Pinus nigra'', the Austrian pine or black pine, is a moderately variable species of pine, occurring across Southern Europe from the Iberian Peninsula and Lower Austria to the eastern Mediterranean, on the Anatolian peninsula of Turkey, Corsica ...

File:Crw 1691-web.jpg, Coultry pine File:R'as Al-matn pine forest-Lebanon.jpg,

Stone pine The Italian stone pine, botanical name ''Pinus pinea'', also known as the Mediterranean stone pine is a tree from the pine family (''Pinaceae''). The tree is native to the Mediterranean region, occurring in Southern Europe and the Levant. The ...

File:Khénifra-cèdre.jpeg,

Cedrus atlantica ''Cedrus atlantica'', the Atlas cedar, is a species of tree in the pine family Pinaceae, native to the Rif and Atlas Mountains of Morocco ( Middle Atlas, High Atlas), and to the Tell Atlas in Algeria.Gaussen, H. (1964). Genre ''Cedrus''. Les F ...

File:Cork Trees Ubrique.jpg,

Quercus suber ''Quercus suber'', commonly called the cork oak, is a medium-sized, evergreen oak tree in the section ''Quercus'' sect. ''Cerris''. It is the primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers and other uses, such as cork flooring and as the core ...

File:Grib skov.jpg,

Fagus sylvatica ''Fagus sylvatica'', the European beech or common beech, is a large, graceful deciduous tree in the Fagaceae, beech family with smooth silvery-gray bark, large leaf area, and a short trunk with low branches. Description ''Fagus sylvatica'' i ...

Barbary stag

The

Barbary stag The Barbary stag (''Cervus elaphus barbarus''), also known as the Atlas deer or African elk, is a subspecies of the red deer that is native to North Africa. It is the only deer known to be native to Africa, aside from '' Megaceroides algericus'', ...

or Atlas stag is endemic to the Akvado region, situated in proximity to Black Lake. It is distinguished by its diminutive physique and a coat of dark brown hue, marked by the presence of white markings on the dorsal surface. It is the sole member of the stag group endemic to Algeria, exhibiting a preference for dense, humid habitats and forests reminiscent of the Akvado Highlands. The species was considered endangered due to hunting for its meat, skin, and sale of its horns, which contributed to a significant decline in its population until it was nearly extinct in 2004. The initiative to reintroduce the Barbary stag to Algeria commenced with the relocation of a pair of Barbary deer and their offspring by the Algerian Forestry Department in collaboration with the Center for the Development of Hunting in Zeralda, situated in the Taras region at an elevated altitude within the Zeitouna municipality. The reintroduction site encompasses an area of approximately fifty hectares. The deer was subjected to predation by a number of species, including the

Barbary lion The Barbary lion was a population of the lion subspecies '' Panthera leo leo''. It was also called North African lion, Atlas lion, and Egyptian lion. It lived in the mountains and deserts of the Maghreb of North Africa from Morocco to Egypt. It ...

, the African leopard, and the

Atlas bear The Atlas bear or North African bear (''Ursus arctos crowtheri'') was a population (or populations) of brown bears native to North Africa that became extinct in historical times. Range The Atlas bear was Africa's only native bear sub-species t ...

. The latter is now extinct, the former is extinct in the wild, and the former is critically

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...

. The

is a herbivorous species that feeds on fruits and vegetables. It inhabits oak and cork forests. The gestation period is approximately eight months, with parturition occurring between April and June. In recent years,

has initiated measures to facilitate the reintroduction of this species. These include the establishment of the Zeralda Fisheries Center, which is responsible for monitoring and enhancing their living conditions, with the aim of preventing extinction. Additionally, a reserve has been designated for the purpose of studying the Barbary stag, and four stags have been sourced from various zoos and four others from the Mascara and El Kalaa reserves. Subsequently, she has produced approximately 21 individuals, some of which have been utilized for the reintroduction of deer into the Akfadou Forest, her natural habitat. The outcomes have been encouraging, as evidenced by the birth of three %100/100 wild calves.

Barbary macaque

The

Barbary macaque The Barbary macaque (''Macaca sylvanus''), also known as Barbary ape, is a macaque species native to the Atlas Mountains of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, along with a small introduced population in Gibraltar. It is the type species of the genus ' ...

is a species that inhabits the vicinity of Black Lake. It has been observed to venture into roads and populated areas in search of food. In response to the threat posed to this species, the Algerian government has implemented a series of measures aimed at safeguarding its survival. These include the installation of signage in areas where the animal is particularly prevalent, discouraging the feeding of maguey and prohibiting its breeding. This is due to the fact that certain foods provided to the monkeys can prove fatal. Additionally, the Algerian government has initiated the establishment of several nature reserves where significant populations of the species are located, including the Taza National Park and the Goraya National Park overlooking the Bay of

, as well as the

Other mammals

Twenty-two species of

mammal A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the Class (biology), class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three ...

s are observed to congregate at Akfadou's Black Lake for the purpose of obtaining sustenance. File:Wildschwein, Nähe Pulverstampftor (cropped).jpg,

Wild boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a Suidae, suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The speci ...

File:Sylvilagus floridanus.jpg,

Rabbit Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also includes the hares), which is in the order Lagomorpha (which also includes pikas). They are familiar throughout the world as a small herbivore, a prey animal, a domesticated ...

File:Oryctolagus cuniculus Tasmania 2.jpg,

European rabbit The European rabbit (''Oryctolagus cuniculus'') or coney is a species of rabbit native to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal and Andorra) and southwestern France. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Oryctolagus''. The European rab ...

File:Mustela nivalis -British Wildlife Centre-4.jpg,

Least weasel The least weasel (''Mustela nivalis''), little weasel, common weasel, or simply weasel is the smallest member of the genus ''Mustela,'' Family (biology), family Mustelidae and Order (biology), order Carnivora. It is native to Eurasia, North Ame ...

File:Genetta genetta felina (Wroclaw zoo).JPG,

Common genet The common genet (''Genetta genetta'') is a small viverrid indigenous to Africa that was introduced to southwestern Europe. It is widely distributed north of the Sahara, in savanna zones south of the Sahara to southern Africa and along the coas ...

File:Erizo moruno (Atelerix algirus).jpg,

North African hedgehog The North African hedgehog (''Atelerix algirus'') or Algerian hedgehog, is a mammal species in the family Erinaceidae native to Algeria, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia. Little is known about this hedgehog, even though the most common b ...

File:Porcupine Berlin Zoo.jpg,

Porcupine Porcupines are large rodents with coats of sharp Spine (zoology), spines, or quills, that protect them against predation. The term covers two Family (biology), families of animals: the Old World porcupines of the family Hystricidae, and the New ...

File:AfricanWildCat.jpg,

Wildcat The wildcat is a species complex comprising two small wild cat species: the European wildcat (''Felis silvestris'') and the African wildcat (''F. lybica''). The European wildcat inhabits forests in Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus, while th ...

File:Golden wolf small.jpg, African wolf File:Fox at the British Wildlife Centre, Newchapel, Surrey - geograph.org.uk - 2221750.jpg,

Red fox The red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe and Asia, plus ...

File:Dwarf mongoose Korkeasaari zoo.jpg,

Mongoose A mongoose is a small terrestrial carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Herpestidae. This family has two subfamilies, the Herpestinae and the Mungotinae. The Herpestinae comprises 23 living species that are native to southern Europe, A ...

File:Tympanoctomys barrerae.jpg,

Plains viscacha rat The plains viscacha rat, plains vizcacha rat, red viscacha rat, or red vizcacha rat (''Tympanoctomys barrerae'') is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae native to Argentina. It is one of three species in the genus ''Tympanoctomys''. Des ...

Location

Lake Akfadou is situated between the Algerian provinces of

and

, in close proximity to the source of the Soummam Valley. Its location within the Akfadou Forest renders it a strategically advantageous position within the

. The lake is situated 43 kilometers west of

and 50 kilometers east of

, with Mount Akfadou, 7 kilometers to the south, providing a backdrop. The lake is situated within the municipality of

Adekar Adekar is a commune in northern Algeria in the Béjaïa Province The Béjaïa Province (Kabyle language, Kabyle: ''Tawilayt n Bgayet''; , Latn, ar, Wilāyat Bijāyah; or ) is a provinces of Algeria, province of Algeria in the Kabylie regio ...

, which is located within the Adekar district."Panoramio - Photos of the World". panoramio.com.
Archived from the original on 2019-04-20. Accessed April 27, 2016
Archived
January 19, 2014 at

Wayback Machine The Wayback Machine is a digital archive of the World Wide Web founded by Internet Archive, an American nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California. Launched for public access in 2001, the service allows users to go "back in ...

References

External links

Videos

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Links

Algeria's Ministry of Water Resources.
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310055459/http://www.mre.dz/ , date=2018-03-10 Lakes of Algeria