Ogun River

Coordinates: 6°44′44″N 3°20′33″E / 6.745589°N 3.34259°E / 6.745589; 3.34259

The Ogun River is a waterway in Nigeria that discharges into the Lagos Lagoon.

Course and usage

The river rises in Oyo State near Shaki at coordinates 8°41′0″N 3°28′0″E / 8.68333°N 3.46667°E / 8.68333; 3.46667 and flows through Ogun State into Lagos State. The river is crossed by the Ikere Gorge Dam in the Iseyin local government area of Oyo State. The reservoir capacity is 690 million cubic metres (560,000 acre·ft). The reservoir abuts the Old Oyo National Park, providing recreational facilities for tourists, and the river flows through the park. The Ofiki River, which also rises near Shaki, is the Ogun River's chief tributary. The Oyan River, another tributary, is crossed by the Oyan River Dam which supplies water to Abeokuta and Lagos. In densely populated areas the river is used for bathing, washing and drinking. It also serves as a drain for mostly organic wastes from abattoirs located along the river's course.