The lakes look like jewels dropped into the sand. They exist because water that fell as rain thousands of years ago soaked deep into the ground and is slowly making its way to the surface here. Some of the lakes are very salty, some are fresh, and some have layers of both — and each has its own unique colour depending on the tiny plants and minerals living in the water.
Date palm trees lean over the edges of the lakes, their roots reaching into the water. Reeds and rushes grow thickly around the shores, and wading birds pick through them looking for food. Archaeologists have found signs that people have been visiting these lakes for at least 7,000 years, drawn by the rare gift of water in the desert.
Local Toubou and Zagawa communities have lived near Ounianga for generations, using the date palms for fruit and shade, and the reed beds for building material. The lakes are still used by camel caravans passing through the Sahara as a place to rest and drink — just as they have been for hundreds of years.