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Posted on 5:43 PM by Wanto and filed under
By Andrew Muigai
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, the largest of the great lakes, straddles across Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The lake occupies an area of 26,830 square miles, making it the world's second largest freshwater lake, second only to Lake Superior in North America. The lake has an average depth of 120 feet, with its deepest point being 250 feet. At its greatest width, Lake Victoria is 250 miles long. The lake is not actually situated in the great rift valley but lies between the main and western branches.
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.
The second of the great Lakes, Lake Tanganyika, is also the second largest lake in Africa after Lake Victoria covering an area of 12,700 square miles. At a depth of 4,710 feet, Lake Tanganyika is the deepest lake in Africa, and second deepest in the world after Lake Baikal in Siberia. The lake lies within the western branch of the great rift valley.
Lake Tanganyika is the world's longest lake being 420 miles long. At its widest area, the lake has a width of 45 miles. The lake is found along the borders of four different countries namely: Tanzania, Zambia, DRC Congo, and Burundi.
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.
The variety of cichlid fish species in Lake Malawi is greater than that found in any other lake in the world. Researchers from the World Wildlife Fund have to date identified over 500 of these species. The Lake Malawi cichlids are mostly brightly colored with beautiful patterns, a fact that makes them popular with aquarists around the world.
Lake Victoria, the largest of the great lakes, straddles across Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The lake occupies an area of 26,830 square miles, making it the world's second largest freshwater lake, second only to Lake Superior in North America. The lake has an average depth of 120 feet, with its deepest point being 250 feet. At its greatest width, Lake Victoria is 250 miles long. The lake is not actually situated in the great rift valley but lies between the main and western branches.
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.
The second of the great Lakes, Lake Tanganyika, is also the second largest lake in Africa after Lake Victoria covering an area of 12,700 square miles. At a depth of 4,710 feet, Lake Tanganyika is the deepest lake in Africa, and second deepest in the world after Lake Baikal in Siberia. The lake lies within the western branch of the great rift valley.
Lake Tanganyika is the world's longest lake being 420 miles long. At its widest area, the lake has a width of 45 miles. The lake is found along the borders of four different countries namely: Tanzania, Zambia, DRC Congo, and Burundi.
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.
The variety of cichlid fish species in Lake Malawi is greater than that found in any other lake in the world. Researchers from the World Wildlife Fund have to date identified over 500 of these species. The Lake Malawi cichlids are mostly brightly colored with beautiful patterns, a fact that makes them popular with aquarists around the world.
About the Author:
The Author works with Africapoint.com, a reputable online travel agency for Africa. View information on African Safaris and African Flights including tours to the Great Lakes region.
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