| Lake Gabou | |
|---|---|
  Lake Gabou Location within Mauritania | |
| Coordinates | 17°55′N 11°53′W / 17.917°N 11.883°W |
| Basin countries | Mauritania |
Surface area | 9,500 ha (37 sq mi) |
| Settlements | Ksar el Barka |
Official name | Lac Gabou et le réseau hydrographique du Plateau du Tagant |
| Designated | 13 February 2009 |
| Reference no. | 1854 |
Lake Gabou (Arabic: بحيرة كب, French: Lac Gabou, Fula: Hoorewendu) is a lake and wetlands area in the Tagant Region of Mauritania.
Historically, the lake and the basin around it were also known as Tammourt en Naaj (Arabic: تمورت والنجا) or Hoorewendu, meaning 'head of the swamp' in Pulaar, and sheltered a population of hippopotami.: 32
The lake captures runoff from the Tagant plateau and supports a range of indigenous flora and fauna, including date and doum palms, two economically important palm species, as well as African baobabs and desert roses. It is also a refuge for West African crocodiles and migrating birds. It was designated a Ramsar site in 2009. The lake has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports a significant population of wintering ruffs.
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