Lake Ahémé

{{Short description|Lake in Benin}}

{{Infobox lake

| name = Lake Ahémé

| native_name ={{native name|fr|Lac Ahémé}}

| image = File:LE LAC AHEME AU BENIN en 2018.jpg

| caption = Lake Ahémé

| image_bathymetry =

| caption_bathymetry =

| location = southwestern Benin

| coords = {{coord|6.495|N|1.975|E|region:BJ_type:waterbody_scale:500000|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin_map = Benin

| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Lake Ahémé in Benin

| type =

| inflow = Couffo River

| outflow = Aho Channel

| catchment =

| basin_countries = Benin

| length = {{convert|24|km|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|5.5|km|abbr=on}}

| area = {{convert|78–100|km2|abbr=on}}

| depth =

| max-depth =

| volume =

| elevation = {{convert|3–5|m|abbr=on}}

| islands =

| cities = Agatogbo, Agbanto, Akodéha, Bopa, Dekanmè, Kpomassè, Possotomè, Tokpa-Domè

| reference =

}}

Lake Ahémé is Benin's second largest lake, with an area of {{convert|78|km2}} in the dry season which expands to {{convert|100|km2}} in the rainy season.{{cite conference |url=https://dlc.dlib.indiana.edu/dlc/handle/10535/1339 |title=Governing Local Commons: What Can be Learned from the Failures of Lake Aheme's Institutions in Benin? |last1=Dangbégnon |first1=Constant |date=2000 |location=Bloomington, Indiana |conference=Eighth Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property}} The lake is {{convert|24|km}} long and has an average width of {{convert|3.6|km}}.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VLjafeXa3gMC&pg=PA305 |title=A directory of African wetlands |first1=R. H. |last1=Hughes |first2=J. S. |last2=Hughes |publisher=IUCN |year=1992 |isbn=2-88032-949-3}} The Couffo River drains into the swampy north end of the lake, while the 10 km-long Aho Channel connects the lake's southern end to the Grand-Popo Lagoon on the Atlantic coast. This channel flows south during the wet season but reverses direction in the dry season, which causes the salinity of the lake's southern end to increase.

The Pedah and the Ayizo are the two main ethnic groups living on the shores of Lake Ahémé.{{cite book |last1=Houngnikpo |first1=Mathurin C. |last2=Decalo |first2=Samuel |date=2013 |title=Historical Dictionary of Benin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0yGPTsRubWEC |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0810871717 |access-date=28 July 2016}} Fishing and agriculture are the main economic activities in the area. In the lake, 71 species of fish have been recorded.{{cite web |url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1017 |title=Basse Vallée du Couffo, Lagune Côtiere, Chenal Aho, Lac Ahémé |accessdate=28 July 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.lacaheme.com/spip.php?article1 |title=Présentation |accessdate=28 July 2016 |archive-date=18 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818112803/http://www.lacaheme.com/spip.php?article1 |url-status=dead }}

The {{convert|47500|ha}} comprising the marshes of the lower Couffo, Lake Ahémé, the Aho Channel and the adjoining coastal lagoon have been designated as a Ramsar site and an Important Bird Area.{{cite web |url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/userfiles/file/IBAs/AfricaCntryPDFs/Benin.pdf |title=Benin |publisher=BirdLife International |accessdate=28 July 2016}}