The East African great lakes are large water bodies situated around and in the African great Rift Valley, which formed as a result of tectonic plates action. Among these lakes are Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Malawi.
Lake Victoria, wrapped by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, covers an area of 26,830 square miles and is 250 miles long at its greatest width thus making it the worlds second largest freshwater lake after Lake Superior in North America. Lake Victoria has an average depth of 120 feet, with its deepest point reaching 250 feet. The Lake is not really situated in the rift valley, but rather lies between the main branch and the western branch.
Among the numerous East Africa rivers that feed Lake Victoria, the largest is River Kagera, which originates from Burundi and is considered the remote source of the Nile. The waters from Lake Victoria drain into River Nile, which flows northwards for about 6670km through the dry regions of North Africa, and into the Mediterranean sea.
Lake Victoria abounds in the Nile perch, a fish species that was introduced to the lake by the lakes residents in the 1950s. Nile Perch is a dangerous predator fish that can grow up to 6 feet long and has wiped out half of the 400 cichlid species of fish that inhabit Lake Victoria.
Lake Tanganyika, one of the other Great Lakes of Africa lies in the Western branch of the great rift valley. Lake Tanganyika covers an area of about 12,700 square miles and is the second largest lake in Africa. It is also interesting to note that the lake reaches a depth of 4,710 feet making it the second deepest lake in the world after Siberia's Lake Baikal.
With a length of about 420 miles, Lake Tanganyika is the longest lake in the world. The lake measures 45 miles at its widest point. It is wrapped by Tanzania (on the east), Burundi (on the north), Congo DRC (on the west) and Zambia (on the south).
The Lukaga river, which flows into the Congo river, is Lake Tanganyika's only outlet. As a result, the waters of the lake are more alkaline and harder than those of Lake Victoria and Lake Malawi. Most of the salts that flow into the lake stay there after the water evaporates, raising pH values in the lake to between 8.6 and 9.5.
Lake Tanganyika is known for its over 200 species of fish that abound in its waters. Many of these species are small and can be housed in 10 and 20-gallon aquariums. On the other hand, crocodiles and hippopotamuses are often found on the shores of the lake.
Hundreds of miles away from Lake Tanganyika is Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa by the residents. Placed between Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique, with an estimated area of 8,683 square miles and being 360 miles long and 25 miles wide, Lake Malawi is the ninth largest lake in the world. The lake forms the eastern border between Mozambique and Malawi. The lake is unusual in that it does not have tides or currents.
Lake Malawi contains a greater variety of indigenous species of cichlid fishes than any other lake in the world. Over 500 species have been identified to date by World Wildlife Fund researchers. These cichlids of Lake Malawi are brightly colored and patterned and for this reason they have been very popular with aquarists all over the world.
Lake Victoria, wrapped by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, covers an area of 26,830 square miles and is 250 miles long at its greatest width thus making it the worlds second largest freshwater lake after Lake Superior in North America. Lake Victoria has an average depth of 120 feet, with its deepest point reaching 250 feet. The Lake is not really situated in the rift valley, but rather lies between the main branch and the western branch.
Among the numerous East Africa rivers that feed Lake Victoria, the largest is River Kagera, which originates from Burundi and is considered the remote source of the Nile. The waters from Lake Victoria drain into River Nile, which flows northwards for about 6670km through the dry regions of North Africa, and into the Mediterranean sea.
Lake Victoria abounds in the Nile perch, a fish species that was introduced to the lake by the lakes residents in the 1950s. Nile Perch is a dangerous predator fish that can grow up to 6 feet long and has wiped out half of the 400 cichlid species of fish that inhabit Lake Victoria.
Lake Tanganyika, one of the other Great Lakes of Africa lies in the Western branch of the great rift valley. Lake Tanganyika covers an area of about 12,700 square miles and is the second largest lake in Africa. It is also interesting to note that the lake reaches a depth of 4,710 feet making it the second deepest lake in the world after Siberia's Lake Baikal.
With a length of about 420 miles, Lake Tanganyika is the longest lake in the world. The lake measures 45 miles at its widest point. It is wrapped by Tanzania (on the east), Burundi (on the north), Congo DRC (on the west) and Zambia (on the south).
The Lukaga river, which flows into the Congo river, is Lake Tanganyika's only outlet. As a result, the waters of the lake are more alkaline and harder than those of Lake Victoria and Lake Malawi. Most of the salts that flow into the lake stay there after the water evaporates, raising pH values in the lake to between 8.6 and 9.5.
Lake Tanganyika is known for its over 200 species of fish that abound in its waters. Many of these species are small and can be housed in 10 and 20-gallon aquariums. On the other hand, crocodiles and hippopotamuses are often found on the shores of the lake.
Hundreds of miles away from Lake Tanganyika is Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa by the residents. Placed between Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique, with an estimated area of 8,683 square miles and being 360 miles long and 25 miles wide, Lake Malawi is the ninth largest lake in the world. The lake forms the eastern border between Mozambique and Malawi. The lake is unusual in that it does not have tides or currents.
Lake Malawi contains a greater variety of indigenous species of cichlid fishes than any other lake in the world. Over 500 species have been identified to date by World Wildlife Fund researchers. These cichlids of Lake Malawi are brightly colored and patterned and for this reason they have been very popular with aquarists all over the world.
About the Author:
The Author works with Africapoint.com, a reputable online travel agency for Africa. View information on Africa tours and flights from Africa including tours to the Great Lakes region.
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