THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE POPULAR SALT LAKE IN NIGERIA

The popular Okposi salt lake is among the amazing wonders of nature, making it to have a great features and historical background. The lake is located at Ivuezizor at Okposi Okwu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

For about 400 years, it has been the source of salt for the people of the area. According to local mythology, the lake was discovered by two hunters, who were searching for drinking water found that the water could not quench their thirst.

 Over the years, Okposi women led the production of salt by manipulating solar energy, and the town became a notable trade centre, attracting buyers both from the eastern and northern parts of present-day Nigeria. A famous market arose, Named "Odenigbo Okposi".

The Okposi salt solution is found in a lake which approximately covers not more than three plots of land, at about 100×150 measurements.

From a close view, it is purely greenish and glitters, as well as encircled by trees and grasses.

The lake is adored by indigenes of the community owing to a common heritage, myth and custom that surrounds it.

The custom of the land is a common law that can never be disobeyed. Anybody that disobeys it shall not go scot free as he or she would be dealt with by the goddess of the lake, including striking the offender with death or madness.

Men are forbidden from fetching the salt solution from the lake or even assist the women to lift the pot containing it.

Gallons and other plastic materials are not used in fetching the salt solution from lake.

Visitors are also forbidden from walking into the lake or nearby with foot-wears. This includes women.

Also, any women detecting her menstrual period must stay away from the lake and its surroundings.

Ebonyi State government made efforts to install a machine inside the lake and run a pipe from there  (outside), but both the machine and the pipe got destroyed.

So from all indications, the goddess of the salt lake doesn’t need technology. And the reason is simple: If that happens, it will entirely destroy the tradition, norm and belief that govern the lake. So the gods will not allow it to happen,so they people believe.

Aquatic animals, such as fish, stockfish and crocodile exist in the lake, but it is forbidden for anyone to kill or eat them.

During the civil war, it was the major source of  economy. Because of the presence of the lake, Okposi never suffered kwashiorkor. That Biafran soldiers ate food with salt was because of that lake. Many people from Igbo land get salt to cook from this lake.