The Marist Lake is a breath of fresh air in the middle of the buildings that are growing like mushrooms in the Marist district. In this part of the commune of Hann Bel Air, several activities are carried out around this body of water to preserve it, while beautifying this site with multiple functions.
Maristes is one of the rare districts of the Senegalese capital with a lake. Running from Hann Park to Edk station, Maristes Lake is one of the rare green lungs in Dakar. Surrounded by casuarina trees, this site is a haven of peace. The air is pure there. The greenery as far as the eye can see and the buildings growing nearby provide a special setting. Aside from the chirping of birds panicked by the purring of the engines and the putrid miasma exhaled by the water in contact with dead leaves and other animal carcasses, the place is ideal for rest. In addition to trees and shrubs, small farmers have settled all along the lake offering a beautiful view to passers-by. Vieux Fall is in his seventies.
Dressed in gray briefs matched with a green t-shirt, the man spent more than 40 years in this place. Barefoot, he slips between the plants, explaining what his job is. “I have been here since the time of Abdou Diouf. I produce a lot of organic vegetables and I work in perfect collaboration with the water and forests to preserve the lake. I make sure that we don’t cut down the trees,” he explained.
A horticultural producer for years, Mr. Fall spends most of his time preserving and restoring the lake. This natural environment is like his second home. “I feel at home here. I love the calm, the freshness of this lake. All these buildings you see found me here. So I have a connection with this site that I consider it my home,” he explained, recalling that the “casuarina trees as well as all the surrounding trees are protected by waters and forests. We ensure that it is not touched, and we alert the authorities if anyone tries to do so. In addition to cleaning the lake and its surroundings, I ensure the preservation of the trees, especially the casuarinas because they are a protected species. The role that the waters and forests have entrusted to me is to protect them,” explained the septuagenarian.
A proliferation of mosquitoes Around the lake, cleanliness appeals to passers-by. Flower pots, trees and a few makeshift workshops set the scene. Abdoulaye Mbengue is a florist. Watering can in hand, he has been busy watering plants for years. Drawing water from the lake, he believes that their presence on the site prevents people from turning it into a garbage dump.
“Flowers cannot grow among garbage. This is why our presence here is important. In addition to bringing in fresh air because of the plants you see, our presence prevents residents from dumping garbage there. We clean all the places,” said Abdoulaye Mbengue. However, some local residents take advantage of their absences to throw animal carcasses there, which are the cause of certain nauseating odors emanating from them. “During the day, no one can dump garbage here.
But sometimes a foul smell coming from the lake teases our nostrils. This is due to animal carcasses often thrown into the lake at night,” revealed Mr. Mbengue. A trained carpenter and cabinetmaker, Pape Fall has been based near the lake for almost 10 years. With his makeshift workshop, the young father earns his living. “I do everything not to disturb local residents. We protect the lake; because no one can put garbage there in our presence. Every morning I clean,” he confided. A few meters away, Moustapha Diouf leaves his house to get to his car. Phone in hand, he hurries to leave. According to him, the only drawback of the lake is the presence of mosquitoes at night.
“The lake is the source of the freshness that we feel even in our homes. The only problem is that it encourages the proliferation of mosquitoes. We have to install mosquito nets on our windows and doors to avoid bites,” lamented Mr. Diouf. Lac des Maristes is a nature reserve in the middle of the city of Dakar. It facilitates the attenuation of temperatures because of the belt of trees which produce oxygen during the day to the great joy of the local populations. Thus, related activities are carried out around the lake allowing the cleaning and conservation of this natural heritage of which there are no longer many in this country.
Marie Bernadette SENE
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