African Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria. Here's where Lake Victoria is located on the world map

Lake Victoria is one of the most striking natural attractions in Africa, no less famous than Mount Sinai, Colored Canyon, Cameroon Volcano or Lake Chad. Victoria is the largest freshwater body of water on the black continent and the second in the world after one of the American Great Lakes - Lake Superior.

Its surface area is about 68,000 square kilometers, in some places the depth of the lake reaches 80 meters.

It is in this lake that the most majestic African river originates - Nile.

Where is Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria is the natural border between Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. There are a significant number of Aboriginal people in the coastal areas - according to various sources, from 30 to 35 million people. U local residents this place has a different name - Nyanza, which means “big water”.

In 1858, this reservoir was discovered by the famous English explorer John Speke, who named it in honor of the British queen.

The lake and its surroundings are very popular among hunting and fishing enthusiasts. These waters are home to more than 100 species of fish, including rare ones such as Nile perch.

This is also the only place in the world where fossil lang fish, which lived on Earth 300 million years ago, have been preserved. This unique species is considered a transitional link from fish to land animals, as it has an amazing respiratory system, which includes both gills and lungs.

Hunting and fishing

Fishing on Lake Victoria is a fascinating activity, but quite dangerous. These waters are simply teeming with crocodiles, so that an unwary fisherman can turn into prey himself.

By the way, hunting tours watching crocodiles and hippos is one of the most extreme local activities offered to tourists.

There are several famous nature reserves and national parks around the lake.

One of the most popular places among tourists is park on Rubondo Island, home to several hundred bird species and dozens of animal species. Flocks of colorful tropical birds “paint” the coast in all the colors of the rainbow - perhaps there are few places in the world where you can observe such a fantastic spectacle. In the park you can see elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, mongooses and many other exotic animals.

The special pride of the park is the population of Sitatunga antelopes, distinguished by their unique grace and beauty.

No less interesting National Park Ruma - beautiful place to observe wild animals in their natural environment a habitat.

Within the lake there are numerous islands, both quite large and small. Some of them are inhabited by people, they have conditions for accommodating tourists.

Landscapes fabulous beauty, romantic canoe walks on the lake, the opportunity to watch rare animals or study the life of local fishermen - such a vacation is perfect for those who are looking for peace and quiet.

One of the most unique islands here is Mgingo Island. The island is famous for its excellent fishing and has a very original history. For a long time, Mgingo was uninhabited - residents of the coastal areas believed that an evil spirit lived on the island.

In the early 90s of the last century, one of the local shamans performed a ritual of exorcism, and two daredevils, Kenyan fishermen, settled on the island. Soon other fishermen began to settle on the island, attracted by the excellent catches. Currently, about 130 people live on Mgingo. Catching the expensive Nile perch allows fishermen to earn up to $200 a week, which is considered a lot of money by local standards.

Due to the fact that the island is disputed territory, local residents are forced to pay taxes to the treasury of both Kenya and Uganda.

At the same time, the islanders consider Mgingo a free republic, have their own government and live in a friendly community according to their own laws. The worst punishment for violating these laws is expulsion from the island.

The lake also has its own legends. According to one of them, Lukwata lives near the island of Rubondo - a mysterious monster that from time to time rises from the bottom of the lake and takes away the prey from the fishermen.

Of course, the mysterious Luquata is not as popular as its “colleague” from Loch Ness, and yet thousands of tourists come to these parts every year in the hope of meeting a strange creature.

On the coast there is no clearly defined division of the year into seasons. The air temperature stays around 25°C all year round, and the water temperature rarely drops below 22°C.

The change of seasons in these places is determined by the amount of rain. Spring and summer are the time of tropical showers, That's why best time The period for visiting Victoria is November-February.

Our planet is amazingly picturesque and diverse. It captivates travelers with its wonderful reservoirs, mighty rocks, and spacious plains. In Africa and the USA there is a wonderful lake - Victoria. If we consider the first area, it occupies three large stretches of land: Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. It covers each of the regions and in total is 68 thousand square kilometers. Its width is 275 km, and its depth is no more than 80 meters. The lake was first found and explored in 1858 by traveler Speke. He decided to name his discovery himself and notify the authorities about it. As you know, the lake began to be called Victoria (in honor of the English queen). It is considered highland, as it is located in a tectonic trough, and is also located at an altitude of 1134 m above sea level.

Interesting information

Lake Victoria has long been considered a sea. All this is due to the enormous size and depth of the waters. It occupies the third position in size among freshwater lakes and has the shape of a giant irregular oval. The length is 350 km, and the width is on average 200 km. Sometimes there are wetlands, less often - crystal clear ones. Along the perimeter there are rocks that drop off sharply and create the impression of a giant shield. Lake Victoria is full of headlands, bays and peninsulas. They connect perfectly, flow into each other and create indescribable landscapes. Ships that cross the lake usually hide in bays during storms and bad weather. The climate here is very unique; it has been formed over many years. It can be swelteringly hot one day and damp and cold the next. Gusts of wind always shake the waters, even huge rocks and capes are not able to protect against this. By the way, the lake was recognized as one of the most dangerous in the world.

Lake in the USA

Lake Victoria (USA) is located east of Michigan. It was discovered by the French and is replete with islands. Its area is 59,600 square kilometers and its depth is 229 meters. According to legend, many ships sank and are stored in the lake. It is perfect for snorkeling and diving and attracts thousands of tourists every year. In the freshwater body of water, among all the islands, Manitoulin is considered the main and largest.

It should be noted that Lake Victoria (Africa) has nothing in common with the American one. Its area is 68 thousand square kilometers, depth - 80 meters. It is navigable, it is inhabited a large number of a variety of fish, and its coastline crosses the equator. The only similarity with the US lake is the presence of various islands. It flows into the Kager River and fills the depression between the eastern and western sides of the Great Gorge valley. Thanks to partial rains, the water is constantly replenished and enriched with essential microelements. The lake is home to crocodiles and lang fish (a rare species that lived about 300 years ago). She is able to breathe and trap air in her gills, like in her lungs. Such water inhabitants are considered very rare and at the same time the pride of local residents. Lake Victoria in Africa is the second largest in the world, compared to other freshwater lakes.

VICTORIA, Victoria Nyanza, lake in East Africa, the second largest (after Lake Superior) among the world’s freshwater lakes, turned into a reservoir with the world’s largest usable volume (204.8 km 3); in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The area of ​​the lake is 68.9 thousand km2, length 320 km, width up to 275 km, volume 2700 km3, depth up to 92 m. The length of the coastline is over 3450 km. Tanzania owns 49% of the water area and 33% of the coastline of the southern part of the lake, Uganda - 45 and 50% of the northwestern part, respectively, Kenya - 6 and 17% of the northeastern part of the lake.

The Victoria Basin, one of the “Great Lakes” of Africa, is located in a gentle tectonic trough of the crystalline basement in the eastern part of the African Platform. It arose in the middle of the Quaternary period simultaneously with the formation of the narrow lake basins Albert and Edward during the formation of the western branch of the East African Rift System, which disrupted the previous flow into the Congo Basin. New system The flow was turned to the east, towards a tectonic trough, where a vast reservoir was formed, the area of ​​which increased during pluvial eras. The flow of water from this reservoir formed the bed of the Victoria Nile River, which was directed during the formation of the Kabarega Falls into Lake Albert, and from it north into the Nile River. Victoria and located north of the lake Kyoga - relics of an ancient continental reservoir.

The modern coastline (at an altitude of 1134 m) is very rugged. Northern, Eastern and southern coast low-lying, sandy, with many bays (the largest are Vinam, Speke), the western coast is more elevated and leveled. There are over 3000 islands in the water area with total area about 6 thousand km 2, the largest are Ukereve, Rubondo, Kome, Sese Islands. 17 rivers flow into Victoria, the most water-bearing is the Kagera River (considered the source of the Nile - one of the longest rivers in the world). After the construction of the Owen Falls hydroelectric complex on the Victoria Nile River in 1954 with a dam height of 31 m and a hydroelectric power station, due to flow regulation, the water level in Victoria began to slowly rise. By the beginning of 1965, it became 3 m above the long-term average level, the area of ​​the lake reservoir reached 76 thousand km 2.

In the incoming part of Victoria's water balance, the share of rainwater is 82-87%, runoff from the catchment area is 13-18%, in the outgoing part - evaporation from the surface of the reservoir is 76-83%, and the flow of lake water mass is 17-24%. Small share river waters in the nutrition of the lake - a consequence small area catchment (190 thousand km 2). Due to low flow rates, the average residence time of water in Victoria is about 25 years.

Victoria is located in the equatorial belt. On the shores of Winam Bay in Kisumu (Kenya) average annual temperature air temperature is 23.1°C, precipitation is about 1300 mm per year. Victoria is characterized by severe storms caused by hurricane-force winds during tropical thunderstorms. The water level changes dramatically depending on the layer of precipitation, the water content of floods on tributaries and storm surges. The average long-term range of intra-annual level fluctuations is 0.5 m.

The surface layer of the lake water mass, almost uniform in temperature (23-25.8 ° C), has a thickness of 30-40 m. With strong south-eastern winds and the greatest cooling of the surface (usually in June - July), mixing spreads to the bottom, providing annual convective - dynamic circulation of the entire water column. The salinity of Victoria's waters is low (88 mg/l). Below is the average long-term chemical composition of the lake waters (mg/l): HCO - 3 56.1; SO 2- 4 2.3; Cl - 3.9; Ca 2+ 5.6; Mg 2+ 2.6; Na + 10.4; K+3.8; SiO 2 3.0.

According to observations, in the coastal zone of Kenya, the high oxygen content in the surface trophogenic layer - up to 8-14 mg/l (100-180% saturation in calm periods) - decreases with depth to 4-7 (50-80%) at a horizon of 10 m and up to 1-4 mg/l - at a horizon of 40 m. In the shallow and storm-protected Vinam Bay, an equally low O 2 content was noted at a depth of 10 m, near the bottom. This is due to the negative impact of contaminated domestic wastewater from the city of Kisumu and other settlements, as well as agricultural runoff in the river basins flowing into the bay. Water transparency is low, it varies from 0.2 m in February with a water turbidity of 12-22 mg/l to 1.5 m in September (<10 мг/л). С 1930-х годов прозрачность уменьшилась более чем в 5 раз. В заливе Винам иногда наблюдается цветение воды. Подобные очаги антропогенного эвтрофирования в целом мезотрофной экосистемы Виктории наблюдаются и на других участках прибрежной зоны. Средняя скорость озёрного илонакопления 0,5-1 мм/год.

The transformation of the lake into a reservoir caused minor changes in the natural conditions and economy of the sparsely populated coast. The level rise did not exceed 1.4 m above the highest level of the lake. Victoria continues to boast pristine beauty and diverse flora and fauna. Macrophytes are dominated by papyrus and hornwort, providing shelter for fry. Phytoplankton is represented by diatoms (melosira, fragillaria, cyclotella), green algae (pediastrum, stagedesmus), dinophytes (glenodinium), cyanobacteria (lingbia, spirulina, anabena). There are numerous crocodiles in the waters. The main commercial fish are Nile perch, introduced in 1978, and tilapia. Protected areas are located mainly on the islands, for example, Rubondo National Park (relict tropical vegetation; inhabited by elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, oryxes, sitatunga forest antelopes, hippopotamuses, fat-bodied animals, chimpanzees, green monkeys, porcupines, mongooses, pythons, mambas, cobras; birds are numerous). To preserve Victoria's unique aquatic ecosystem, the Lake Victoria Fisheries Convention was adopted in 1994. Used as a source of water supply, for recreation (sailing). Fishing, shipping. The main ports are Mwanza, Bukoba (Tanzania), Entebbe (Uganda), Kisumu (Kenya). Discovered in 1858 by J. H. Speke, named after the Queen of Great Britain.

Lit.: Data book of world lake environments. Otsu, 1988. Vol. 1; Report on lake Victoria environmental management project. S. 1., 1995; Yin H., Nicholson S.E. The water balance of Lake Victoria // Hydrological Sciences Journal. 1998. Vol. 43(5); Nikanorov A. M. Hydrochemistry. 2nd ed. St. Petersburg, 2001.

M. D. Ananicheva, K. K. Edelshtein.

The European population first learned about Lake Victoria in 1858. Its discoverer is the British explorer John Henning Speke, who presented a report on his journey to Africa at the Royal Geographical Society. He named the lake after the queen and suggested that the Nile flowed from it.

The local population calls the reservoir Nyanza. There have been attempts to come up with a different name for the lake that would be able to unite the ethnonyms of different peoples living on its shores, but so far they have not been successful.

Main characteristics

Lake Victoria is located in the trough of the East African Plateau. Its area is 68 thousand square meters. km, maximum depth - about 80 m, volume - 8400 cubic meters. km. The length of the coastline is 7 thousand km. The length of the reservoir is 320 km, and the width is 240 km.

The main source of nutrition for the reservoir is precipitation, and to a lesser extent, tributary water.

The Kagera River flows into the lake and the Victoria Nile flows out. In 1954, the Owen Falls Dam was built, turning Victoria into a reservoir. There are many islands in the waters of the lake: Ukerve, Sese, Rubondo and so on.

The reservoir is actively used by the local population for navigation and fishing. The main ports are Kisumu, Jinja, Mwanza.

Most of the banks are low and flat, heavily indented and swampy. In the southwest the line of contact between water and land is steep and high.

Almost 30 million people live in the water area. The area is covered with savannas, and in the north-west - evergreen equatorial forest. In the east, gold and diamonds are mined.

Climate Features

Lake Victoria is located in a tropical climate zone. The average temperature fluctuates at 20-22 °C. The rainy seasons occur twice a year: from March to May and from October to December. Quite often, under the influence of hurricane winds, the reservoir is covered by severe storms.

In recent decades, there has been a downward trend in precipitation in this region. Scientists suggest that over time this could lead to a catastrophic decrease in fresh water supplies and pastures for livestock, which would threaten the lives of the local population.

African flavor

Victoria is not only an interesting geographical site, but also a center of attraction for tourists from all over the world. What attracts them? First of all, the opportunity to plunge into the authentic atmosphere of Aboriginal life, as well as natural beauty and unique wildlife. The best time to travel is from August to September.

The African savanna fascinates with its landscapes. The endless plains, interspersed with majestic hills and decorated with islands of greenery, amaze with their pristine beauty. The most powerful impressions of contemplating landscapes can be obtained at dawn and sunset, thanks to the play of natural colors.

In this area there are large trading cities, fishing villages with huts and tattered sails of boats, as well as plantations of the best coffee and sugar cane on the mainland. The population of the coasts and islands of Victoria honors their traditions and gladly introduces them to travelers.

Among the settlements, you should definitely visit Kisumu - a city with the architecture of colonial times, Musoma - a fishing port, Butiama - a village with an archaic way of life, in which the first president of Tanzania, Julius K. Nyere, was born. It is also worth taking a ride around the lake accompanied by a guide who will tell you the mysterious legends associated with this amazing place.

Unique fish

Lake Victoria is an excellent place for fishing enthusiasts. More than 200 species of fish are found in its waters. Tilapia is of greatest commercial importance. There are several large centers on the islands that specialize in organizing fishing.

The most attractive trophies are Nile perches, whose weight can reach 200 kg, as well as lang fish. The latter are found only in Victorian waters. The uniqueness of these fish lies in their ability to breathe with both gills and lungs. Langi appeared more than 300 million years ago and were a transitional link between ordinary fish and land creatures.

Animal paradise

Traveling along the shores of Victoria is a great opportunity to observe animals in their natural environment. Moreover, thanks to the proximity of different natural zones, you can see both the inhabitants of the tropical forest and the inhabitants of the savannah.

For example, the lush green Kakamega Forest in Kenya is home to various primates, lizards, hundreds of species of birds, butterflies, as well as antelope, porcupine, mongoose and so on.

Among the national parks of Lake Victoria, the most popular reserve is on the island of Rubondo (Tanzania). It is forbidden to travel here by car, but this is even better, because on foot you can see more animals.

On an island of 458 sq. km of relict forests coexist with swamps, meadows and savannas. Therefore, the reserve is home to a wide variety of fauna. Only here is the sitatunga, a timid antelope with elongated and widely spaced hooves, found. Also in Rubondo you can see hippos, crocodiles, green monkeys, pythons, chimpanzees, elephants, mongooses, giraffes, porcupines and other exotic animals.

Bird lovers will also get a lot of pleasure from visiting the national park. It is home to royal kingfishers, paradise flycatchers, cormorants, ibises, storks, goliath herons and so on. No less attractive is the fauna of the island. About 40 species of orchids grow on its territory.

Threats to Victoria

Outwardly, the shores and water surface of the lake seem like an earthly paradise, but they are fraught with many dangers. Under no circumstances should you swim in the pond: firstly, it is infested with crocodiles, and secondly, the water is contaminated with schistosomiasis.

The tsetse fly also lives on the islands, from the bite of which a person can become infected with sleeping sickness. Other dangerous insects that carry malaria and yellow fever are also present.

Not every traveler can withstand the specific climatic conditions that combine high humidity and heat. You should also remember that there are often very strong storms on the lake.

Ecological problems

The ecological situation in the lake's waters is getting worse every year. The reasons for this are deforestation, population growth, development of the fishing industry, drainage of sewage and industrial waters, and so on.

In addition, the situation is negatively affected by the artificial introduction of exotic plants and animals. For example, lilies introduced to Africa in the last century have grown in the waters of Victoria. These plants, which have incredible resilience, consume large amounts of oxygen, which has a negative impact on fish numbers. They also block tributaries, complicating navigation.

Lake Victoria is a unique African body of water, impressive not only for its size, but also for its pristine beauty, as well as the diversity of natural resources. Here you can admire stunning scenery, watch animals, go fishing and photography, and get in touch with Aboriginal traditions. The main thing is to plan your trip carefully and take care of your safety.

Lake Victoria is a freshwater lake in Africa.

There are a great many amazing and fascinating places on our planet. Some of these are considered the largest on the planet or continent, while others, on the contrary, are the tiniest.

In our article we will talk about one of such places on the planet - Lake Victoria. Local residents call it “big water” and tell many mysteries and legends about it.

Lake Victoria, where it is located

On the map, Lake Victoria is easy to find on the African continent, in its eastern part. The lake is located on a tectonic trough of the East African Plateau. Formed due to changes in the landscape many millions of years ago. The lake is the natural border of 3 states: Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Lake Victoria on the map

Characteristics of the lake

Lake Victoria is a relict lake. Thanks to climate change and the movement of tectonic plates, this reservoir was formed many millions of years ago. Today it is of scientific interest to many scientists. This is the largest lake in Africa and the second in the world.

• Altitude above sea level - 1134m
• Lake length 320 km
• Width – 240 km
• Maximum depth of the lake – 80m
• Average depth 40m
• The length of the coastline is more than 7000 km
• Area - 68870 km 2

The shores of the lake are heavily indented, there are many bays and depressions, many of them are swampy. The lake with lakes in the valley forms the Great Rift Valley.

Climate

What rivers flow into

Many rivers flow into Lake Victoria. The main one is the Kagera River. It flows from the east, the total length is more than 400 km. The Nzoya River, whose length is 250 km, also flows into the lake. She comes from Kenya. It is an important water resource in this country. The river has many waterfalls. Thanks to them, hydroelectric power stations were built on the lake and it was turned into a reservoir.

Fauna

There are more than 200 species of fish in the lake. The commercial species is tilapia. This is a small gray fish. Popular in the industry due to its taste and calorie content - 96 kcal per 100g. It has a large amount of amino acids, easily digestible protein.

Lake Victoria. hippo photo

The most valuable trophy that can be caught while fishing in the lake is Nile perch. This species can reach a weight of up to 200 kg. The species is endemic and very valuable for science. In general, the lake contains a huge number of fish of ancient origin. The most famous in these places is the protopter. This fish has both gills and lungs. Scientists believe that it was these fish that gave birth to amphibians.

Nile perch photo

Ancient fish include a whole group of fish - haplochromis. They are brightly colored and can change color depending on their mood. Many aquarium fish lovers prefer these wonderful inhabitants of the lake world of Victoria.

Lake Victoria also attracts many animals. The waters are home to crocodiles and hippos. Surrounded by the lake you can find giraffes, elephants, porcupines, mongooses, various birds (flamingos, cranes, herons, etc.), pythons, many insects and tsetse flies.

Nature reserves have been created on some of the large islands of the lake. The largest is the Rubondo Nature Reserve in Tanzania. Very rare animals live here. For example, the sitatunga antelope. In Tanzania it was practically exterminated. On the island you can find various species of monkeys, elephants, birds, and mongooses.

Flora

The shores of the lake are varied. There are thickets of reeds and reeds, papyrus. Banana trees are growing. Of course, there are many aquatic plants and among them is Eichornia (water hyacinth). It grows quickly and causes damage to the lake.

Attractions

• The main attraction of the lake is that it is the source of the famous Nile River, which feeds Egypt and gives life to its inhabitants. It is from Lake Victoria that this river flows. In the beginning they call her Victoria Nile. Then it flows into the White Nile, then into the Blue Nile, and the Egyptians simply call it the Nile.
• Another attraction of the lake is the ancient monster Luquata. Many tourists come here to see this beast, but so far no one has had the chance.

• The lake is named after the English Queen Victoria
• The lake was discovered by John Speke in 1858
• The lake ranks 9th in the world in terms of displacement
• The lake is still inhabited by endemic and relict animals
• 35 million people live around the lake. This valuable natural resource is mercilessly used by the local population, which causes great harm to the preservation of the ecosystem of the lake and surrounding areas.
• Lake Victoria is a unique habitat for animals and fish.