The lake has an area of 103 km2 (40 sq mi).[6] It is the largest lake in Liberia.[7][8]
Hydrology
The brackish lake borders the Cape Mount peninsula. It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow inlet[3] known locally as the "bar mouth".[9] Various rivers, including Mole Creek and Mafa River, empty into the lake.[3][7]
Environment
There are a number of islands in the lake, including Massatin Island, which are havens for monkeys and birds. The lake has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports significant populations of many bird species.[10]
Lake Piso overflowed its banks at least twice in 1998, causing heavy flooding in Garwular District. Flooding in August 1998 occurred due to a blockage of the narrow inlet connecting the lake to the Atlantic Ocean, damaging some homes.[11]
Additional flooding in September and October, brought about by heavy rains, affected over twenty settlements, causing at least ten deaths, leaving thousands homeless, and forcing others to leave their homes.[12][13][14][15][16]
The floods led the government of Liberia to declare the area a "disaster zone".[17]
On December 13–14, 2002, the Papa Friends 2000capsized in Lake Piso, at the confluence of the lake and Mafa River. The overcrowded wooden ferry was transporting approximately 200 passengers, most returning from the funeral of a local footballer. Only 15 people were rescued; the rest drowned and were recovered or presumed dead.[18][19][20][21][22]
High-quality diamonds have been mined from the rivers that discharge into Lake Piso where "igneous intrusions provide potentially rich structural traps".[26]
