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• Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and one of the Great Lakes of Africa. It is the source of the White Nile and its shores include parts of the borders of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

• Fast Facts

  1. Largest lake in Africa International Lake Environment Committee: Lake Victoria
  2. Area: 69480 sq. km (26800 sq. miles)
  3. Coastline: 3220 km (2000 miles)
  4. Greatest depth: 84 m (276 ft)
  5. Average depth: 40 m (131 ft)
  6. Has over 200 species of African Cichlids
  7. Major source of fishing economy: Tilapia & Nile Perch
  8. Major towns: Bukoba & Mwanza: Tanzania, Entebbe & Kampala: Uganda, Kisumu: Kenya
  9. Mageta Island was site of colonial detention camp
  10. Other Great Lakes of Africa: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi

• Background

  Lake Victoria is a comparatively young and shallow lake, and studies of the lake have shown that it has dried up completely at least three times since its inception nearly 400,000 years ago. In the past, the lake supported a thriving fishing industry but after the introduction of Nile perch and Nile tilapia beginning in the 1950s, the populations of many of the lake's native species have crashed. Furthermore, the Nile perch is now heavily overfished.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Africa | African Cichlids | Gorilla | Kenya | Nile River | Nile Perch | Tanzania | Tilapia | Uganda | White Nile | Wildebeest

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