Man Lake and Woman Lake

The peak of Mount Manengouba, a dormant volcano with a sizable caldera at its summit, is the village of Bangem, which is located above the smaller town of Mbat. Man Lake and Woman Lake are two large, distinctly dissimilar crater lakes in the caldera's plain. The Bakossi locals' traditional legend has a strong foundation in the lake's outward appearances and atmospheres, which serve as a testament to the long-standing and intense hostility between Man and Woman Lakes' spirits.

Woman Lake, the biggest of the two, has an accessible, clean shoreline that provides local ranchers with water, fish, and crabs for their cattle. The waters of Woman Lake are ruffled by gusts while the surface sparkles in the sunlight.

Man Lake is a striking contrast. The surface of Man Lake is still flat, opaque, and unreflective on the same sunny day. Depending on the spirit's attitude, its watercolor changes daily between black, green, and brown. Man Lake has very steep slopes, making it impossible for anyone to reach its waters without falling. Man Lake bathing is only permitted during ceremonies and by spiritual men, although bathing in Woman Lake is a daily occurrence.

Furthermore, nothing floats on the lake's surface, and rocks hurled from the rim (no matter how hard or precisely) cannot reach the water, proving that the spirit guards his waters from disturbance. It's as though a field repels all such attempts, yet once sunk, there is no way to get out of Man Lake's waters. It's incomprehensible why Man Lake should have such a temperamental and harsh personality.

It is believed that the storms that roll over the mountain and cover Bangem and other adjacent towns are caused by fights between the ghosts of Man and Woman Lakes.

Location: Hauts Plateaux