Lake Albert Size report
Lake Albert (Lac Albert) is a freshwater lake located on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa and the seventh-largest lake in Africa. In 1972, it was renamed Lake Mobutu Sese Seko.
Lake Albert is a freshwater lake formed by the collapse of a fault. In the southwest, the Semliki River flows from Lake Edward, and the alluvial plain is wider; in the northeast, there is the inflow of the Victoria Nile River, forming a swampy delta. The lake water flows out from the northern end, forming the Albert-Nile River, part of the Nile River system.
The east and west sides of Lake Albert stand with cliffs and deep grooves. The lake is home to abundant fish, hippos, crocodiles, and water birds, and there are elephants, bison, antelopes, and other wild animals on the lakeside. You will learn more interesting facts about Lake Albert.
Lake Albert Introduction
Lake Albert is located in central Africa. It is the northernmost point of the lake chain of the "Albertine Rift," the western branch of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Albert is part of a complex water system in the upper River Nile. Its main inflows are Lake Victoria in the southeast and Lake Edward in the southwest. And its outlet is at the northernmost point of the lake, the Albert Nile, which becomes the White Nile after entering South Sudan. Forested cliffs and ravines border the lake in the west and east.
In 1864, the European Samuel Baker first arrived at the lake. At that time, he was looking for the source of the Nile, so he named Lake Albert after Queen Victoria's husband and wrote his experience in the book "The Albert N'yanza" in 1866. European colonists operated shipping on the lake, and the British developed Lake Albert shipping to link British interests in Egypt and Africa. Zaire President Mobutu Sese Seko renamed the lake Lake Mobutu Sese Seko in 1973.
Lake Albert Size
With a surface area of about 5,600 square km (2,160 square miles), a length of 160 km (100 miles), and an average width of 35 km (22 miles), Lake Albert is a shallow lake, averaging about 25 meters (80 feet) in depth; its maximum depth is 60 meters (190 feet).
Climate and Ecology
With an elevation of 603 meters (2,021 feet), Lake Albert is the lowest and hottest area in Uganda, with an average annual temperature of 26°C (78°F) and an average rainfall of 864-1,016 mm (34-40 inches). Due to the extremely high evaporation rate, the lake water is highly saline and rich in phosphates. The Semliki Plain and the north shore of the lake near Murchison Falls are home to many wildlife, such as elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, and more. The lake is home to about 55 fish species, though its fish diversity is lower than other African Great Lakes like Lake Malawi. A small number of residents along the lake make a living by fishing.
Final Words
Lake Albert is shared between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The population density in some parts of the lake basin is as high as 149 people/km2. The population growth rate is also quite high. Many people around the lake lack access to clean drinking water, improved sanitation, and improved health facilities, which is the most serious problem the local governments would like to improve. The small area also supports small, subsistence farming. The economic development of this region is mainly dependent on tourism due to the basin's natural biodiversity and proximity to parks.
