Lowarengak
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Lowarengak | |
|---|---|
  Lowarengak Location of Lowarengak | |
| Coordinates: 4°17′N 35°53′E / 4.28°N 35.89°E | |
| Country | Kenya |
| Province | Rift Valley Province |
| Population | |
• Total | 30,000 |
| As of 1992 | |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Lowarengak is a town in northern Kenya, near the Kenyan-Ethiopian border. Lowarengak lies on the northwestern margin of Lake Turkana, between the towns of Todenyang to the north, and Nachukui to the south.[1] The town receives fresh water from the Lowarengak and Nakitokonon rivers that drain from the Lapur hills.[2]
Lowarengak is situated just north of the Nachukui formation, a sedimentary sequence 730 meters thick that includes deposits from formation members including the Lonyumun (4.2-4 million years ago or Ma), Kataboi (3.9-3.4 Ma), Lomekwi (3.4-2.5 Ma), Lokalalei (2.5-2.3 Ma), Kalochoro (2.3–1.9 Ma), Kaitio (1.9–1.6 Ma), Natoo (1.6–1.3 Ma), and Nariokotome (1.3–0.6 Ma, the place is also known for the Turkana boy).[3] Most deposits fer formed under lacustrine, fluvial and alluvial fan contexts, and some include remains of Australopithecus and Kenyanthropus.[3]
Populations
Both Turkana and Merile pastoralists live in the region. In 1983, longstanding peace was broken when young warriors on both sides began killing one another.[4] As a result, pastoralists in Lapur were unable to reach the lake with their animals, and by 1992 a mass movement of people from Lapur and Todenyang increased the population of Lowarengak by over 30,000. Another cause of flight to Lowarengak included severe drought.[5] Many of the inhabitants who had previously raised livestock became fisherman in order to continue earning a living.[4] Some who lived in Lowarengak later moved to Natole, continuing to flee the northern areas due to raids and pastoral conflict.[5]
In 2013, hundreds of children were relocated to Lowarengak from Todenyang following large raids that also targeted schools.[6]
