Lake Victoria Size report
Lake Victoria is located on the East African plateau, between the East African Rift Valley and its western branch. The lake is mostly in Tanzania and Uganda, and a small part in Kenya. Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world after Lake Superior, one of the Great Lakes in North America), and the main water source for the Nile.
The lake basin is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful places in the world, and the depression of the ground forms it; the formation of Lake Victoria is completely different from other large lakes on the East African Plateau.
Not only is the Lake Victoria region beautiful, but it is also one of the most densely populated areas in Africa, with millions of people living within an 80-kilometer radius along the coast, almost all of whom also speak Bantu. There are many islands and reefs in the lake, which breed more than 200 kinds of fish. The lake is rich in perch and tilapia.
Lake Victoria Introduction
The African lakes are mainly distributed in the "Great Rift Valley" area of eastern Africa. Due to the internal cracking of the African plates, they are separated from each other. The water around the low-lying area merges into it, thus forming a series of beaded lakes, the largest of which is Lake Victoria on the East African plateau.
There are three countries along with Lake Victoria: Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. The southern part of the lake belongs to Tanzania, and most of the lake in the north and west belongs to Uganda. Kenya is located in the northeast and has the smallest lake shoreline and area. Lake Victoria is a precious wealth bestowed by nature. It provides abundant water resources to the surrounding areas and Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater fish-producing area in Africa, raising nearly 30 million people around the lake.
Lake Victoria Size
Many rivers, such as the Kagera and Mara rivers, flow into Lake Victoria year-round. The lake's only outlet is the Victoria-Nile River on the north bank, where Ripon Falls is formed, and the famous White Nile River, a tributary of the Nile River, originates here. The lake area is irregular quadrilateral, and its shoreline is twists and turns.
- It is 210 miles (337 kilometers) long from north to south and 150 miles (240 kilometers) wide.
- The lake basin has an area of 92,240 square miles (238,900 square kilometers). And its surface area is 26,828 square miles (69,484 square km).
- The lake's shoreline is more than 2,000 miles (3,220 kilometers).
- Its elevation is 3,720 feet (1,134 meters), with a maximum known depth of 270 feet (82 meters).
Climate
Lake Victoria is the largest tropical lake in the world. The huge water body plays a significant role in regulating the climate along the lake area. There are many thunderstorms in the lake area. Under the impetus of the prevailing easterly airflow in the lower atmosphere, it affects the lake's west bank, making it a famous rainy area in East Africa.
Regional Economy
The fishing industry of Lake Victoria and the agricultural land around its shores make the area the economic center of Tanzania. Although fishing is the traditional mainstay of the region, coffee and cotton production is increasing its economic importance, making it one of the most populous regions in Tanzania. Trade with its eastern neighbor Uganda and its northern neighbor Kenya means the Port of Lake Victoria is teeming with development and economic activity.
Ecology
Today, the ecosystem of Lake Victoria has gradually deteriorated by human influence. The introduction of the Nile perch (Lates niloticus) into the lake in the 1950s had a catastrophic effect on the local ecosystem, with hundreds of endemic species going extinct. After Eichhornia crassipes, native to the American tropics, were introduced to Lake Victoria, these aquatic plants grew wildly. In 1995, 90% of the coast of Uganda was blocked by this plant, affecting traffic, fishing, hydropower, and drinking water.
Final Words
Lake Victoria is an African gem; this expansive body of water stretches into the horizon, appearing more like a sea than a lake. Lake Victoria is home to a fascinating variety of tropical freshwater fish, many of which are exported to aquariums worldwide. Calm and pristine, the shores of Lake Victoria offer a serene alternative to the continual activity and rush of safari routes. Bird watching and fishing are popular excursions, and boat trips and hiking tours are also available.