Lake Villages/Towns: Amazing towns floating on the water, each region has its own specialty. People live in different situations in the world. People live in extreme heat, freezing cold and constant rains. Similarly, there are towns built on water. The way of life of the people here is very strange. Such floating cities of the world also have a special history. Let us know about some such areas.
- Lagos Makoko Lake Villages, Nigeria: Makoko is a floating city under a bridge in West Africa. It is a slum, the world’s largest floating city. The Nigerian government considered the slum a nuisance and attempted to evict residents in 2012. Houses were set on fire and armed police opened fire on the residents. As a result, 30,000 people became homeless. Makoko’s population is estimated to be around 250,000. Most of them are poor.
- Ganwi Village : Ganwi village in the West African country of Benin is becoming a popular tourist attraction. The village was formed 400 years ago in the middle of Lake Nokou. The village was built in the 18th century by the Tofinu tribe who escaped from the soldiers of the Fon and Dahomey kingdoms who captured people and sold them as slaves to Portuguese traders. The ancestors who escaped built stilted houses in the middle of the water. The village was built on the word Ganvi, which means ‘we escaped’ in the local language
- Koh Panyi, Thailand : Koh Panyi is a small island village in Thailand. The entire village is built on stilts over the water. It is famous for its unique floating structures. Visitors can explore the village and try some delicious seafood at local restaurants. Here you can enjoy kayaking and other water activities.
- Garden of Eden, Iraq : In southern Iraq there are wetlands known as ‘Garden of Eden’. The people who live there are known as Madan or ‘Marsh Arabs’. They live in beautiful floating houses made of reeds called ‘mudhif’ built on small islands made of mud and rushes. In the late 20th century, Saddam Hussein’s government destroyed these wetlands and homes as punishment for Marsh Arabs who supported a rebellion against the government.
- The Sud, Sudan : The Sud is a vast wetland in southern Sudan formed by the White Nile. It covers an area of about 55,000 square kilometers. It is one of the largest wetlands in the world. Sud plays an important role in the local ecosystem, becoming a habitat for diverse flora and fauna, including many endemic species. It is also home to many species that depend on fishing and agriculture. Trade and transportation in this area will be challenging.