Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Lake Faguibine

Lake Faguibine in Mali, West Africa, was once one of the largest lakes in the region, fed by the Niger River during seasonal floods and spanning approximately 590 square kilometers in 1974. Due to declining precipitation from the late 1980s, increasing aridity, and changing climate patterns, the lake gradually dried up and has remained nearly dry since the late 1990s, turning the area into a desert despite the resumption of normal rainfall after 2000.

Why other options are incorrect:

• Lake Victoria: Located in East Africa (not West Africa), it is the largest lake in Africa and remains filled with water.
• Lake Oguta: Located in Nigeria, West Africa, it is still a functional freshwater lake and has not turned into a desert.
• Lake Volta: Located in Ghana, West Africa, it is one of the world's largest artificial reservoirs by surface area and remains filled with water from the Volta River.

📝 Short Notes: Desertification and Lake Desiccation in Africa

• Lake Faguibine: Located in Mali, West Africa; once covered 590 sq km (1974); dried up by late 1990s due to reduced rainfall and climate change.
• Desertification in Sahel: The Sahel region, including Mali, has experienced severe desertification due to climate variability, overgrazing, and land degradation.
• Impact on livelihoods: Drying of Lake Faguibine destroyed traditional fishing, agriculture, and livestock herding activities.
• Climate patterns: Despite return of normal rainfall post-2000, the lake has not recovered, indicating irreversible environmental changes.
• Other African lakes under threat: Lake Chad has also shrunk by over 90% since the 1960s due to similar climatic and anthropogenic factors.