Lake Victoria is largest freshwater lake in Africa and the second in the world after Lake Superior in USA.
It is found in east Africa on the borders of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.
Tanzania has the largest portion of the lake at 49% , Uganda at 45% and Kenya has the remaining 6 %.
The lake was formed about 400,000 years ago through down warping.
Its approximately 59,947 square kilometres and has an average depth of 40m with the deepest parts being about 80m
The lake is known by many local names such as Nam Lolwe in Dholuo, Nnalubaale in Luganda, Nyanza in Kinyarwanda and Ukerewe. However, it was renamed after Queen Victoria by the British explorer - John Hanning Speke in 1858.
Rain is the main source of water for the lake. It accounts for 80% and rivers account for the rest.
The largest river that flows into the lake is River Kagera in Uganda though it starts from Burundi. The only outflow is River Nile on the northern shore of the lake near Jinja town in Uganda.
This makes the Lake to be the main source of water for the Nile River which happens to be the longest river in the world.
There are many rivers that drain into the lake. The main rivers from Tanzania are Simiyu, Isanga, Magogo, Ruwana, Mori and Grumeti.
From Kenya they are Sio, Nzoia, Yala, Nyando, Awach, Kisian, Sondu Miriu, Kuja, and Mara
From Uganda it’s river Katonga.
From Rwanda it’s River Nyabarongo,
And from Burundi it’s River Kagera and Ruvuvu.
The lake and its source rivers form the Lake Victoria basin. The basin measures about 184,200 square kilometres. It is spread across 5 countries which are Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
There are many islands in the lake. The main islands in Tanzania are Ukerewe - largest island in the lake, Ukara, Rubondo, Maisome, Bumbiri, Kome, Komasi, Gana, Ikuza and Nazinga .
In Uganda they are Bugala, Bukasa, Bukeke, Kome, Damba, Buvuma, Sigulu and Lolui islands.
In kenya they are Mfangano, Rusinga, Ndere, Kimaboni, Takawiri, Kiwa, Koyamo, Pyramid and Mageta islands among others
Some of this islands are designated as National parks and reserves. These are Rubondo National Park and Maisome Forest Reserve in Tanzania and Ndere Island National park in Kenya
The lake is host to many types of animals, fish, plants and algea.
The major animals found in the lake are Hippopotamus, crocodiles, otters, turtles, marsh mongoose, reedbucks, sitatunga, waterbucks, frogs and water snakes.
The main species of fish are tilapia, nile perch, catfish, cichlid, killifish, lungfish, elephant fish, spiny eel and Lake Victoria sardine also known as dagaa, mukene or omena.
The crustaceans include freshwater crabs and shrimp/prawn and the molluscs are the freshwater snails.
Major plants are papyrus and water hyacinth. The water hyacinth is an invasive species that has been rapidly growing in the lake due to increased pollution from raw sewage, agricultural and industrial runoff that has increased nutrients levels in the water.
The lake is an important economic hub to the communities around. It is a source of water for domestic and commercial use, fishing, inland water transport and tourism.
The major towns and inland ports are Musoma, Mwanza and Bukoba in Tanzania. Entebe, Kampala’s Port Bell and Jinja in Uganda. Kisumu and Homa Bay in Kenya.
20 авг 2024
