Thursday 24 May 2012

AGULU LAKE


      

 The Lake is located along Awka road in Agulu, Aniocha Local Government Area of the state. A potential tourist site, it is home to an estimated three hundred crocodiles and water turtles. Fishing is not allowed on the lake and the crocodiles, being sacred animals to the people, cannot be killed. Legend says that these crocodiles were instrumental in delivering the town from enemy soldiers during the Nigerian civil war. It is believed that these sacred crocodiles and turtles transformed themselves into beautiful ladies and lured the soldiers unawares into the lake where they disappeared without trace. At noon the crocodiles and the turtles appear at the banks of the lake to take in sunlight. Anambra state which is one of the states that has traditional attractions such as scared streams, lake, with potentials for investment and tourism development of which Agulu Lake is one. Agulu Lake is not a common lake; it traditionally inclined, and it has cultural landmarks and is believed to be possessed by evil spirits. The lake is used for different spiritual rites performance for traditional worshippers and the water serves as a major source of medicine for different ailments. Interestingly, the traditional lake is also the source of Idemili River which serves different communities of Anambra. The Lake is characterized by sacred and cultural landmarks of attraction which is gradually being devastated by natural and human factors of flooding, soil and gully erosion as well as landslides effects due to poorly consolidated geological formations, weathering and pollution.
           
Agulu-Eliya.jpg                                        
                                                                           
Finally, Agulu Lake offers tourist on excursion, boat rides and entertainment. The traditional native doctors utilize the water for different medicaments; it is being sold in bottles during the market day where people purchase it for various purposes. The lake also promotes the community economy through the fund generated from tourist and different treatment medications. Also the lake is believe to cure the
 “Ogbanjes” which are people been possessed by evil spirits.
                     Agulu-Eliya

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