Rivers and lakes

Where is Lake Victoria located?

Lake Victoria location

Lake Victoria is located in the central part of the African continent, and extends to the borders of three countries: Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, with an area of ​​about 69.490 kmXNUMX.2The lake is characterized by its irregular shore. Its length is about 410 km, while its width is estimated at about 1.5 km. It includes a shallow depression located between the arms of the Great Rift Valley, whose depth is estimated at about 75 metres.

Discover Lake Victoria

The discovery of Lake Victoria dates back to the year 1858 AD, and this discovery is attributed to the British explorer John Hanning Speke. This was during the Europeans’ search for the source of the Nile River at that time, where John was able to see the lake and it was given this name after the Queen of Britain. Victoria; As a kind of tribute. Over the years, some measures were taken related to the lake. A comprehensive survey of it was conducted in 1901 by Sir William Garstin. In 1954, plans for raising the water level in the lake were completed based on the construction of the Owen Falls Dam, which is currently called At the Nalubali Dam on the Ugandan side of the lake, the construction of this dam was completed, and its construction benefited from generating hydroelectric energy on a large scale. This was followed by the construction of another dam one kilometer away from the Nalubali Dam in 1999 AD, and the benefit from the hydroelectric energy generated from it began. In the year 2000 AD.

Read also:The largest river in the world

Characteristics of Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria is characterized by many characteristics, including:

  • Lake Victoria occupies the center of the largest lake in Africa, and is considered the largest tropical lake in the world, in addition to being the second largest freshwater lake in the world.
  • The lake is fed by water from the Kagera River flowing into it.
  • The lake includes a group of islands in its waters, amounting to about 84 islands.
  • The lake basin is surrounded by a densely populated area, and the site is characterized by intense agriculture.
Previous
Where is the Euphrates River located?
Next
Where is the Danube River located?