The great lakes of East Africa comprise of a series of large water bodies in and around the Great Rift Valley formed by tectonic actions of the East Africa Rift. They include Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi.
The largest of of these great lakes is Lake Victoria, which is shared by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Covering an area of 26,830 sq miles, Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake in the world, after North America's Lake Superior. Lake Victoria is 250 miles long at its greatest width, has an average depth of 120 feet, and its deepest point reaches 250 feet. It is actually not situated within the Rift Valley, but lies in an area between the western branch and the main branch of the Rift Valley.
Lake Victoria is fed by numerous rivers of East Africa, the largest being the Kagera. River Kagera originates in Burundi and is believed to be the remote source of River Nile. Although it is the youngest of the three rift lakes, Lake Victoria drains into the longest river in the world " the Great River Nile. The Nile flows for about 6670 km nourishing the dry regions of the northern Africa before finally draining into the Mediterranean Sea.
The Nile perch is a fish species that is in plenty in Lake Victoria. Introduced to the lake in the 1950s, the Nile Perch can grow to 6 feet in length. It is a ravenous predator and has reduced the population of the 400 cichlid species fish in the lake by almost a half.
Lake Tanganyika is Africa's deepest lake, and also the second largest after Lake Victoria, occupying an area off 12,700 square miles. With a depth of 4,710 feet, it is the second deepest in the world after Siberia's Lake Baikal. Lake Tanganyika is situated in the Western branch of the rift valley.
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 home to more than 200 species of fish, many of which are so small that they can be housed in 20 gallon or even 10 gallon aquariums. Along the lake's shore are populations of hippos and crocodiles.
Lake Malawi, the third of the great lakes is situated several kilometers south of Lake Tanganyika. Also known as Lake Nyasa, the lake occupies an area of approximately 8,683 square miles, and is 360 miles long and 25 miles wide. Three countries " Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania " share this lake, which is the ninth largest in the world. Lake Malawi forms part of Malawi's border with Mozambique. An unusual and interesting fact about the lake is that it does not have any 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.
The largest of of these great lakes is Lake Victoria, which is shared by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Covering an area of 26,830 sq miles, Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake in the world, after North America's Lake Superior. Lake Victoria is 250 miles long at its greatest width, has an average depth of 120 feet, and its deepest point reaches 250 feet. It is actually not situated within the Rift Valley, but lies in an area between the western branch and the main branch of the Rift Valley.
Lake Victoria is fed by numerous rivers of East Africa, the largest being the Kagera. River Kagera originates in Burundi and is believed to be the remote source of River Nile. Although it is the youngest of the three rift lakes, Lake Victoria drains into the longest river in the world " the Great River Nile. The Nile flows for about 6670 km nourishing the dry regions of the northern Africa before finally draining into the Mediterranean Sea.
The Nile perch is a fish species that is in plenty in Lake Victoria. Introduced to the lake in the 1950s, the Nile Perch can grow to 6 feet in length. It is a ravenous predator and has reduced the population of the 400 cichlid species fish in the lake by almost a half.
Lake Tanganyika is Africa's deepest lake, and also the second largest after Lake Victoria, occupying an area off 12,700 square miles. With a depth of 4,710 feet, it is the second deepest in the world after Siberia's Lake Baikal. Lake Tanganyika is situated in the Western branch of the rift valley.
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 home to more than 200 species of fish, many of which are so small that they can be housed in 20 gallon or even 10 gallon aquariums. Along the lake's shore are populations of hippos and crocodiles.
Lake Malawi, the third of the great lakes is situated several kilometers south of Lake Tanganyika. Also known as Lake Nyasa, the lake occupies an area of approximately 8,683 square miles, and is 360 miles long and 25 miles wide. Three countries " Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania " share this lake, which is the ninth largest in the world. Lake Malawi forms part of Malawi's border with Mozambique. An unusual and interesting fact about the lake is that it does not have any 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 African Flights including tours to the Great Lakes region.
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