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As our ritual is, myself and my friend, we just wake up and then we are in search of the next tourist attraction to visit, but unlike other tourist locations, we have heard of this place and it was just too good to believe so we wanted to find out for ourselves. A suspended lake in Nigeria and the only one in Africa? What made more interesting is the fact that it is located in my state of origin. We stepped out not knowing how much it was going to cost, how much more the distance we'll cover, but as always adventure got the better of us. Our trip to Oke Ado Awaye, the only suspended lake in Africa was a bitter sweet experience because we didn't envisage how long the journey was going to be, also the road was bad to say the least. Oke Ado Awaye gets its name from the two sister communities surrounding the mountain, Ado and Awaye. The ancient community was a powerful monarchy in past centuries until the death of the last king. According to history, the Alaado (king of Ado) was second in authority to the Alaafin of Oyo kingdom. However, the Alaado was struck by a spiritual attack while visiting a neighboring community for a ceremony and recognized that the attack had come from his kinsmen but could not stop it. Before he died from the attack, he pronounced that anyone who sat on his throne during the period of what should have been his natural life, would pay with their life. So, for the following thirty — five years, the throne was left vacant and other kings rose in clout and renown. Recently, a new Alaado was crowned king and the throne is filled once again. I will highlight the tourist attractions that make Ado-Awaye a wonder. 1. Iyake Lake Iyake Lake is the only recognized suspended/hanging lake in Africa – one of the only two in the world after the Hanging Lake in Colorado. It has been named as one of the fascinating sites to visit in Nigeria as well as one of the seven wonders of Nigeria. It is said to be bottomless and have swallowed those who have tried to measure its depth. 2. Agbómofúnyàké Agbómofúnyàké literally means "collects child and gives to iyake". This little hole is located just beside the iyake lake. It is believed that, whenever the hole has water in it, whoever puts his leg into it gets dragged to the bottom of iyake lake. 3. Ìyá-Aláró Lake It is also one of the numerous lakes on the mountain. The lake was named after an old woman in the Ado-Awaye village, who specializes in dying of clothes. It is said that the old woman, known as “Iya Alaro”, worships the lakes and sacrifices to it at specific times during the year. 4. Oke Ishage (Ishage Rock) Ishage Rock is the bringer of rain for the Ado-Awaye people. It is a large elongated boulder of rock, balanced and standing upright on one of its small edges. 5. Esè àwon Àgbà Esè àwon Àgbà translates to “the footprint of the elders”. It is a cluster of large “footprints” found all over the mountain. It is believed that the gods once walked over the mountain to protect the locals during the time the locals stayed up the mountain. 6. The Elephant Tree This is composed of the tangled trunk or root of a fallen tree which dramatically takes the form of the head and trunk of an elephant. 7. Esè kan Aiyé Esè kan Òrun This is a wide and deep chasm on the mountain which separates one part of the mountain from the other part which hosts the peak of the mountain. Only brave mountain climbers dare cross this valley as the rock slopes steeply along the valley walls. Only a narrow, very steep and slippery path across the valley, links the two parts of the mountain. Our experience at the Oke Ado Awaye is one we will relish forever, obviously that won't be our last visit to the suspended lake. We love adventure and locating amazing tourist attractions in our hobby.