Where is Lake Victoria located in Africa? Lake Victoria
BoatmanThe 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. Length coastline– 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 life local population.
African flavor
Victoria is not only interesting geographical object, 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 animal world. The most best time for the trip – from August to September.
View of the lake from Kenya 
Streets of KisumuThe African shroud 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 settlements You should definitely visit Kisumu - a city with colonial-era architecture, 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 mysterious legends associated with this amazing place.
Port in Uganda
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 on the islands major centers, specializing in organizing fishing trips.
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 areas you can also see the inhabitants 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 national parks Lake Victoria is the most popular reserve 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. Royal kingfishers, paradise flycatchers, cormorants, ibises, storks, goliath herons and so on live here. No less attractive is the fauna of the island. About 40 species of orchids grow on its territory.
Sunset on Lake VictoriaThreats to Victoria
Externally, the shores and water surface of the lake seem 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 are incredibly resilient, 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 and diversity 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 located in the very center of Equatorial Africa. It occupies the regions of three states: Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.The area of the most picturesque lake on the African continent is about 68 thousand km2.
Its maximum width reaches 275 km, and its average depth does not exceed 80 m.
The credit for the discovery of the picturesque lake belongs to the English traveler D. Speke. While exploring East Africa, in July 1858 he came to the shores of a huge body of water, which the locals called Nyanza (“big water”). Speke decided to give the lake a different name. He named it after the English Queen Victoria. The largest lake in Africa also has a third, no less poetic name - Ukerewe. The lake lies in a giant tectonic trough that formed on the East African platform. This is one of the high mountain lakes. It is located at an altitude reaching 1134 m above sea level.
Lake Victoria is often called the sea.
Indeed, the size of Victoria exceeds the area of even such fairly large reservoirs of our planet as the Aral and Sea of Azov.
In addition, it is rightfully considered the third largest freshwater lake in the world. globe. In terms of area occupied, it is second only to the Caspian Sea and Lake Superior, part of the American Great Lakes group. However, it is not only its size that allows us to classify Lake Victoria as an inland sea. The navigation conditions and balance of Victoria's waters are most characteristic of the sea.
And yet Victoria is one of the largest lakes in the world. It is filled with fresh water, while sea water contains a large amount of dissolved salts. Only this circumstance turned out to be decisive when scientists struggled with the question of which group of bodies of water to classify Victoria: whether it was a lake, or an inland sea. The issue was resolved in favor of the first.
According to the outlines of the shores, the lake resembles a giant oval of irregular shape. Its length from southwest to northeast reaches 350 km, width – 200 km. Its banks are mostly low and marshy, with the exception of the southwestern ones. Their basis is an elevated plateau. Sharply falling high cliffs meet lake water here. It seems as if they, like a giant stone shield, are protecting the coast from attack water element. There are especially many bays, bays, capes and peninsulas. They are the main elements that make up the coastal landscape. During periods of terrible storms and hurricanes, bays and bays become the only refuge for ships crossing the lake. There are many large and small islands here. The largest of them are Ukerewe, Sese, Mansome, Ruvondo and Kome. Archaeologists and geographers have managed to find evidence that several million years ago Lake Victoria occupied much large area. Scientists were able to calculate the age of this reservoir. It turns out that the lake bowl was formed back in the Tertiary period, and by the onset of the wet Quaternary period the lake had increased significantly. At that time it occupied the territory of the modern state of Uganda. Moreover, its eastern shores bordered the coastline of Lake Rudolf.
The surface of the lake is dominated by all types of winds that form over the African continent. This open lake, raised by volcanic and tectonic processes to a fairly large height. In addition, its low banks do not pose a serious barrier to the winds. Even mountain slopes and passes are not able to protect the lake from strong gusts of wind. The movement of air masses is what causes storms and hurricanes. Due to frequent storms and tornadoes born above the surface of the water, the lake is currently recognized as one of the most dangerous (from the point of view of navigation) bodies of water on earth.
Over the course of several million years, a special climate has formed on the coast of Lake Victoria. The sweltering heat here is combined with high levels of air humidity, and prolonged tropical downpours are often followed by long periods of drought. Travelers who come here usually complain about countless poisonous insects. A fairly common occurrence in these parts are various diseases, the carriers of which are the same insects.
On the Victorian coast there is no division of the year into spring and summer. There is no snow or frost here. The average air temperature rarely drops below +25°C. At the same time, the average annual water temperature is at least +22°C. The change of seasons of the year is determined by the amount of precipitation. Yes, on winter time year there is a minimum number of them. It is not uncommon for there to be no rain at all for several months. But with the arrival of summer, columns of water literally fall from the sky onto the coast. At the same time, tropical downpours, flooding everything around, can continue for several days. April and May are considered especially wet. In just these two months, the water level in the lake increases by 400–600 mm. Wet monsoon winds are also a kind of source of nutrition for the lake. Every year they bring up to 1500–2000 mm of precipitation.
Because the Victorian coast has a hot climate and strong winds, much of the rainfall evaporates. Scientists were able to calculate the volume of moisture returning to the sky. It turns out that up to 93 km³ of water evaporates from the surface of the lake every year. This value slightly exceeds the volume of water that the Nile carries into the sea during the year, and is only slightly less than two annual water flows on the Dnieper. However, despite such a large amount of evaporating water, Victoria is never shallow. This phenomenon is explained by the special nature of the water cycle occurring above the surface of Victoria and the coastal area adjacent to the lake.
Experts have determined that up to 98 km³ of precipitation falls within the surface of the lake. Winds forming over Victoria pick up water vapor, which is concentrated in air currents. The winds carry part of the moisture to other parts of Africa, and the rest returns to the lake, falling in the form of precipitation.
But not only precipitation is the source of nutrition for the lake. A large number of waters are brought to Victoria by its tributaries. According to scientists, the total volume of water brought by the rivers is 16 km³. Thus, together with precipitation, the lake receives up to 114 km³ of moisture. At the same time, as mentioned above, 93 km³ of water evaporates from the surface of Victoria. The remaining 21 km³ of moisture enters the Victoria Nile River and then flows to Mediterranean Sea, along the way fed by tributaries of the Nile.
Annual fluctuations in water levels in Victoria cannot be considered significant. The average indicators of such fluctuations are only from 20 to 40 cm. However, the most significant for the water balance of Victoria are changes in water levels observed over several centuries. Such secular fluctuations often reach 2–3 m. In addition, quite serious rises in the water level periodically occur on Lake Victoria. The largest of these phenomena were noted at the end XIX century, as well as in the period from 1961 to 1964.
Animal and vegetable world coast of Victoria is typical of the African continent. Plants such as papyrus, reeds and reeds have become a worthy decoration of the coast of Victoria, and banana palms, growing in abundance on the coast of Victoria, have long become a kind of symbol of the African continent. Local residents in some areas grow cotton and coffee on separate plots.
The numerous bays of the lake and the mouths of nearby rivers are home to hippos and crocodiles. Locals call them "mamba". These are huge and strong animals. The body length of individual individuals is often 5–6 m. Fishing has been developed on Lake Victoria for a long time. For numerous fishing tourists, the African reservoir seems to be a real fishing paradise. According to scientists, up to 100 different species of fish live in the lake. Moreover, most of them are not found anywhere else except in the waters of the lake. The species composition of birds living on the coast is no less diverse. Often the shores of Victoria are painted in a variety of colors of the rainbow - millions of birds gathered in huge flocks. Here you can see flamingos, crowned cranes, various types of herons and other birds.
Like many other areas of our planet, the ecosystem of the coast of Lake Victoria was also on the verge of destruction by the middle of the 20th century. The number of rare and endangered species of plants, animals and birds has increased. By now, even such an animal as a rhinoceros has become quite rare on the lake coast. It is exterminated in large quantities by local hunters, hoping to get money for rhinoceros horns, which are used in the manufacture of medicines.
The number of leopards on Victoria's shores has declined sharply in recent decades. Compared to the beginning of the 20th century, giraffes, elephants, lions and hippos are now rarely seen here.
The most major port city Tanzania, located on the coast of Victoria, is Mwanza. It is connected to the main industrial areas of the country by several railway and highways. Various goods arrive from Tanzania to other African states located on the shores of Lake Victoria. The main items of trade are locally produced products: sisal, sorghum, meat and wool. It must be said that not far from the port are the main deposits of gold and diamonds in East Africa. The export of precious metals and stones constitutes the main source of income for the country's budget. In addition, Mwanza is considered the main transit point for the transportation of products and goods entering Tanzania by sea (the country is washed by the Indian Ocean).
The largest port on the northern coast of Victoria, in the state of Uganda, is the city of Entebbe. Products and goods delivered to the port are then loaded onto cars, which transport them to the capital of the state, Kampala.
Kissima is considered the largest port in Kenya. The railways transport a variety of goods from the industrial interior to the ocean port of Mombasa across the lake.
Lake Victoria is of great importance for the three African countries not only as a center of fishing, shipping and trade. Lake water is the main supplier of hydro resources and relatively cheap electricity. Victoria's power is used to irrigate fields and also power the turbines of a power plant called Owen Falls. The power plant supplies light to all areas of Uganda, as well as many parts of Kenya.
The construction of a dam on the lake caused a slight rise in the water level. However, modern scientists have been able to find ways to regulate the flow of lake water.
Owen Falls Dam.
On the river flowing from Lake Victoria. Victoria Nile in the 50s, the Owen Falls dam was built, which raised the water level in the lake by 3 m, turning it into the largest lake-reservoir on the globe with a useful volume of 204.8 cubic meters. km.Owen Falls Dam is not designed as a multi-use facility. The hydroelectric project was built to provide electricity to Uganda. The total capacity of the Owen Falls hydroelectric station is 300 thousand kW.
Lake area Victoria without islands - 76 thousand square meters. km. The average annual amplitude of level fluctuations is 30 cm, the maximum long-term before 1961 is 1.65 m. In 1962 it exceeded this previous maximum by 54 cm, in 1963 - by 106 m and in 1964 - by 141 cm and reached 3.06 m.
Average annual balance of the lake: precipitation -84.4 cubic meters. km, inflow -12.7 cubic meters. km, which is 97.1 cubic meters. km, consumption part of the balance: drain - 20.4 cubic meters. km, evaporation - 76.7 cubic meters. km. It is difficult to say to what extent, with the help of Lake Victoria, it was possible to regulate the flow of the Nile in Sudan and Egypt, since half of the water coming from the Great Lakes region evaporates in the swampy region of Sudan - the Sudd. To reduce evaporation losses, it is certainly necessary to build a canal and implement other hydraulic engineering and reclamation measures in this area.
It was assumed that the construction of a hydroelectric power station would trigger spontaneous industrial development, but energy consumption turned out to be lower than expected. This is explained, in particular, by the fact that the transmission of electricity over long distances is limited climatic conditions(the area is subject to frequent thunderstorms, high relative humidity, etc.).
Despite the fact that the Owen Falls reservoir is the largest in volume in the world, it caused relatively minor changes in the nature and economy of the surrounding areas, since the shores of the lake were not intensively developed and populated, and the excess level in relation to the maximum long-term before 1961 was only 1.4 m. Only the ports needed to be converted. Fishing, which has always been the main occupation of the coastal population, continues to develop intensively, and fish catches significantly replenish the lack of protein substances in the diet of the local population.
Until the middle of the 19th century. Lake Victoria remained inaccessible to Europeans.
The search for the source of the Nile brought results in 1858, but it was not until 1859 that John Henning Speke announced what he had discovered in East Africa largest lake and the source of the White Nile.
To confirm his discovery, he had to return again to the shores of the lake, to which he gave the name of the Queen of Britain - Victoria.
On July 30, 1858, the Englishman John Henning Speke (1827-1864) was the first European to land on the shores of a huge lake in East Africa. The Arabs called this lake Ukerewe, and the locals called it Nyanza. Speke considered it possible to put the lake on the map under the name Victoria Nyanza.
The African explorer himself came from a wealthy family and dangerous journeys I set off across the Dark Continent, apparently by calling.
In India, where Speke served as an officer in the British colonial army, he met the traveler Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890). Together they explored Somalia (in 1854-1855 and 1856-1859) and in 1858 they discovered Lake Tanganyika. After which Burton, due to an attack of malaria, had to stay in the city of Tabora (now Tanzania), and Speke independently made a trip to the lake, about which he had already heard a lot from local residents. Speke suggested that the lake he discovered was the source of the White Nile, since he already knew from the local population that from this lake in the north flows big river, along which they once sailed big ships.
Speke knew that the ruler of Egypt, Muhammad Ali Pasha (1769-1849), had made three expeditions to the upper Nile to control Sudanese mining and the slave trade. The reason for the impossibility of hitting large ships into Lake Speke he considered the rapids in the upper reaches of the Nile.
However, Burton, who believed that the source of the Nile was Tanganyika, did not agree with Speke. But Burton had to stay again due to illness, now in Aden, and Speke reported his discovery in London in 1859. The Royal Geographical Society sent a new expedition to check the validity of the discovery and link it with previous research. This time, the Scot James Augustus Grant (1827-1892) set out on the road with Speke in 1860.
This time, researchers discovered the main tributary of the lake - the Kagera River. On July 21, 1862, Speke reached the source of the Nile. He sent a telegram to London: “Neil is all right.”
But Burton and another famous explorer Africa, David Livingston, expressed doubts about Speke's discoveries. Two books published by Speke in subsequent years did not resolve these doubts. Although the description of the route, ethnographic materials, herbariums, maps, climate observations and other materials from Speke’s expeditions, as well as Grant’s published book, it would seem, should have convinced anyone. But then the opinion that rivers begin in the mountains and cannot flow from the lake seemed undeniable. In addition, measurements of the depth of the lake made in different parts of it gave different results.
In 1864, shortly before a public dispute with Burton, who was eager to prove that the lake consisted of two isolated bodies of water, Speke was killed while hunting from a careless shot. Burton became convinced that his opponent was right after his death. But everything really turned out to be okay with Neil.
Lake Victoria is unique in its beauty, flora and fauna.
Today Lake Victoria is choked by industrial discharges and wastewater from human activity. The lake becomes shallow, the fish disappear from it. Will the UN have time to recognize it as the property of humanity?The ecological situation around Lake Victoria and in its waters is already seriously worrying not only scientists and governments of neighboring states, but also the world community.
Lake Victoria belongs to the African Great Lakes, located in the African Rift Zone.
In the north, east and south, the shores of the lake are low-lying, sandy, with many bays, the western shore is more elevated. The largest bays are Kavirondo (Vinam) and Speke (named after the discoverer of the lake). Most of the lake's flow is made up of rainwater, the largest tributary being the Kagera River.
It was the dependence of the lake level on rain that largely determined last years its shallowing. Scientists explain the reduction in precipitation not only by general climate warming, but also by active deforestation in Africa, including in the vicinity of the lake.
There is no hope that this process will stop. Thus, a report by the Swiss research institute Biovision, published in 2010, states that African countries need to triple agricultural production by 2050, as the continent's population continues to grow and could reach two billion people in 40 years. This means that deforestation for agricultural land will continue.
It will not be possible to improve the food situation in the Lake Victoria area at the expense of fishing - the same report provides data that over the past 10 years, fishing on the lake has decreased in some areas by 10 times. The government of Uganda announced back in 2008 that it would be forced to stop supplies abroad of one of the main export fisheries of the republic - Nile perch. Poaching was cited as the reason for the reduction in catch. However, environmental pollution of the lake has also led to a reduction in fish stocks.
Ecologists are already predicting the death of all life in the lake in the next 50 years due to clogging sediment at the bottom and general pollution environment. Chemical fertilizers, sewage, and industrial waste have already created a serious threat to all life in the waters of the lake and on its shores. Another threat to Lake Victoria is the so-called water hyacinth, or eichornia. It was once brought from Asia by Europeans, who decorated artificial ponds and reservoirs with this truly beautiful aquatic plant. But today, this soft purple flower has taken over the entire lake - its thickets are killing fish, impeding shipping and blocking the entrance to harbors, and clogging the filters and pipes of the Owen Falls power plant. Ugandan waters are already 80% blocked by water hyacinth. They are trying to combat dangerous beauty with the help of pesticides.
Another misfortune is the so-called killer algae, which, when multiplying, release toxins that destroy fish and are dangerous to humans. An outbreak of such algae in 2009 near the city of Entebbe has already led to massive fish deaths and shortages drinking water. The reason for this phenomenon could be the accumulation of organic debris.
Conservationists are calling for Lake Victoria to be declared a global treasure and saved by international environmental organizations under the auspices of the UN.
Lake Victoria - general information:
Official name: Victoria, lake in East Africa, second largest fresh lake in the world.Countries in which the lake is located: Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya.
Largest cities on the shores of the lake: Kampala (Uganda), Mwanza (Tanzania).
Main ports: Entebbe (Uganda), Mwanza, Bukoba (Tanzania), Kisumu (Kenya).
The most important rivers: Kagera, Victoria Nile (White Nile).
Lake area: 68,870 km².
Lake length: 320 km.
Lake width: 275 km.
Volume: 2,760 km³.
Coastline length: over 7000 km.
Maximum depth: 80 m.
Average depth: 40 m.
Height n. u. m.: 1,134 m.
Equatorial monsoon, two rainy seasons,
average temperature January about + 22°C, July - about +20°C.
Average annual precipitation is 1500-1600 mm.
Located in East Africa, in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Located at an altitude of 1134 m. Area 68 thousand km2 (2nd largest - after Lake Superior - of the fresh lakes of the world). The greatest length is 320 km, width 275 km. Average depths 40 m (maximum depth - 80 m).
The northern, eastern and southern shores are low-lying, sandy, with many bays. The western bank is more elevated and leveled. The total length of the coastline is over 7 thousand km. The largest bays are Kavirondo and Spica. 
The lake is surrounded by savannas; in the northwest, humid equatorial forest approaches the shores. It is fed mainly by atmospheric precipitation and the waters of numerous rivers, among which the most abundant is the river. Kagera is the source of the Nile. The average annual income is 114 km3 (16 km3 from rivers, 98 km3 from precipitation); annual evaporation from the surface is 93 km3. The flow (21 km3) is carried by the Victoria Nile River and is regulated by the Owen Falls hydroelectric dam 2.5 km below the river's exit from the lake.
The strongest storm activity caused by hurricane winds during tropical thunderstorms in a huge (68,635 km2) open water space at a relatively shallow depth ensures good mixing of layers and saturation of water with oxygen.
A huge number of bays, bays and islands create a rich variety of all kinds of underwater landscapes - from sandy and muddy soils overgrown with reeds and aquatic vegetation, to rocks and scree. Water transparency in open places reaches 8 meters (less near the shore); The pH varies from 7.1 to 9.0.
Mysteries of Lake Victoria
Over the past 25 years, Lake Victoria cichlids have become the focus of attention among biologists studying evolution. It turned out that it was impossible to explain the origin of more than 500 species using Darwin's theory of evolution, who believed that it took millions of years to create a species. The little fish turned out to be a real puzzle for scientists. Of all the lakes that formed along the fault, the so-called Great freshwater lakes East Africa - Tanganyika, Malawi and Victoria - provide an illustration of the process of animal evolution in action.
The waters of these lakes, separated from other bodies of water by large expanses of parched, barren land, are home to several hundred species of fish that are found nowhere else in the world. Lake Victoria is the shallowest and youngest of the three lakes, being approximately 750,000 years old. It changed, at times overflowing and flooding neighboring reservoirs, replenishing them with new species of fish, and then dried up, which again led to isolation. The main phenomenon of Lake Victoria - the fantastically rapid formation of species and subspecies - has not yet found an acceptable explanation. In the same places, after a few years, completely different species and subspecies are caught, it seems that they literally appear out of nowhere.
The number of non-scientifically described variations under the letters SP increases every year. In 1996, after analyzing sediments at the bottom of the lake, scientists came to an important conclusion? 12,400 years ago, the lake completely dried up, which means that 500 species must have evolved at an unprecedented rate (all this happened during the existence of humans!). The validity of this theory was confirmed by the example of Lake Nabugabo, separated 4000 years from Victoria by a sand spit.
Five new species were found at Nabugabo, differing from the original Victorian ones only in the color of the males. The ability to change in the next generation can even be observed in an aquarium! In 1996, it was discovered that some species had changed their habitat, others began to change their color. New, previously unknown species, presumably hybrids, also appeared.
Victoria also has its own Nessie. Local residents claim that a mysterious huge animal lives in the lake. The creature, which they call lukvata, often chases pies and tries to knock them over. Back in 1902, Sir Henry Johnston published information about an unusual animal living in Lake Victoria in a book about Uganda: “Among the local residents there is a legend that the lukwata dragon lives in the waters of the lake...
One European managed to see this creature. Sir Clement Hill was crossing the lake in 1900 on a small steam boat and saw a large square head that looked like a fish." Moreover, the unusual creature behaved very aggressively, trying to grab a native sitting on the bow of the ship. The same creature was observed for many years, except local residents, ex-commissioner of the province Grant, American athlete Bronson and others, some mistook it for a fish, others for a giant python. They only agreed that it was not a crocodile, but when a statement from a hunter named Johnston appeared in the press, he simply did not. They believed it. Judge for yourself: according to him, the animal, about 4.5 meters long, had a head the size of a lion, but spotted, like a leopard.
Two long white fangs protruded from the upper jaw. The monster was covered with scales like an armadillo, had a broad spotted back, a thick and long tail and left footprints the same size as a hippopotamus, but with claw marks like those of a reptile. Summarizing many observations, the famous Belgian zoologist Bernard Euvelmans, author of the book “Secrets of Mysterious Animals,” concludes that this mysterious animal may well be a dinosaur: “There is a view of dinosaurs as giants,” he writes.
This makes it difficult for experts to admit that such a giant survived undetected. But among them there were also medium-sized animals, and even dwarfs, sort of pocket dinosaurs the size of a pigeon. What’s so sensational about the fact that small forms of dinosaurs have been preserved among the ten-meter-long man-eating crocodiles?”
Lake Victoria problems
Before the introduction of Nile perch (Lates niloticus/Lates sp.), the lake was home to 500 species of cichlids or more. On this moment 2/3 of species are extinct or their populations are in critical condition. Of the 109 species discovered at the beginning of the lake’s research, 90% have become extinct. But the multiplied perches grow to fantastic sizes (they say that they caught 1.5-meter specimens). Nile perch is an expensive fish. It is purchased willingly and in large quantities for European residents. Every day it reaches the tables of 2 million Europeans. Yes, specifically Europeans, because everything that is caught is exported. Everything is under strict or cruel control. The locals don’t see the fish, or rather, they do, because they catch it and process it in numerous factories along the shores of the lake.
With the ill-conceived introduction of Nile perch (Lates niloticus) into Lake Victoria as a fishing target, a serious threat looms over the entire unique endemic cichlid fauna. Breeding and preserving these rare creatures in an aquarium will help preserve cichlids for civilization. In the USA and Europe, conservation programs for Lake Victoria cichlids have been existing and developing for a number of years.
Water level
An unprecedented drought in East Africa has caused the water level in Lake Victoria to drop to its lowest point in 80 years. Compared to the early 1990s, the water level has dropped by almost a meter. Local fishermen are forced to leave their homes, ferry services have ceased, and hydroelectric power stations are almost inactive due to the lack of water volume sufficient to ensure normal operation of the turbines. According to the minister water resources Maria Mutagamba, reducing the discharge from the Owen Falls reservoir from 1010 tons of water per day to 340 tons will make it possible to raise the water level in the rivers that feed Lake Victoria, and therefore in it itself, which will allow power plants to resume operation.Kenyan experts name two main reasons for this phenomenon. Firstly, there are general climate changes that have led to a decrease in precipitation throughout the region. The human factor also has the most negative impact. Last February, the UN's chief hydrologist, Daniel Cool, issued a report accusing Uganda of theft. It turns out that the Ugandans were secretly diverting water from the lake to their power plants to ensure a stable supply of electricity.
However, it is clear that the reason for the drop in Victoria's water level is not so much the entrepreneurial spirit of the Ugandans, but the almost complete lack of rain in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti. According to the UN International Food Programme, due to the drought, which has left these countries without water and reduced pastures to a minimum, more than 11 million people are at risk of starvation.
Lake Victoria pollution
The world's second largest natural reservoir of fresh water, Lake Victoria, is predicted to die within 50 years from clogging sediment and general environmental pollution in the region. The main culprit of the catastrophic situation is employees International Center Research Agricultural and Forestry (ICRAF) and the Ministry of Agriculture of Kenya name chemical fertilizers used on nearby farms. The second source of lake pollution is wastewater from cities in the region. Intensive research papers have been ongoing for 18 months. Scientists are trying to determine as accurately as possible the chemical composition of sedimentary layers at the bottom of the lake, their correspondence to the components of the soils surrounding Victoria, and the possibility of poisoning the reservoir with fertilizers and sewage.
The soft purple flowers of eichornia, or water hyacinth, are incredibly beautiful, as are the smooth, oval leaves that shine in the sun. Water hyacinth was once brought from Asia to Africa by European colonialists, who used it to decorate ponds in the gardens of their estates. However, those who live on the shores of Lake Victoria have no time for beauty. Eichornia crassipes, as this malicious aquatic weed is called in Latin, is considered a terrible scourge here. Eichornia was first spotted in Africa's Lake Victoria in the early eighties.
Today this weed has taken over the entire lake, killing fish, blocking harbors and depriving entire villages of their livelihood. Uganda, located in the north of Lake Victoria, is especially affected by Eichornia, where the coastal waters are covered by this weed by 80%. After neither voracious weevils nor specially designed harvesting machines could cope with the pale purple scourge, the Ugandan government relied on poisons. Despite protests from the National Environmental Protection Agency, authorities have already begun using the substance 2,4 D, known as one of the main components of the defoliant Orange used by the Americans during the Vietnam War.
Recently, even ecologists observing the spread of water hyacinth are beginning to understand that the use of merciless herbicides is the lesser of two evils. Eichornia also affects trade relations between the three countries located on the shores of Lake Victoria - Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Cargo ships and the ferries find themselves practically unable to break through the dense carpet covering the water. Uganda experiences periodic power outages as Eichornia clogs the filters and pipes of the Owen Falls hydroelectric power station.
The ichthyofauna of the lake is unique natural phenomenon, unfortunately, is endangered. So far, only a few private collections make it possible to get acquainted with the entire diversity of fish of this group.
The largest of them not only in Russia, but probably in the world is the collection of Anatoly Zhukovin, who for several years painstakingly collected rarities through various importing companies.
Due to their rarity and high cost, Victorian fish have not yet become widespread among nature lovers. There is a possibility that this will never happen. While you are reading these lines, another species of cichlid from Lake Victoria has disappeared from the face of the earth...
Lake Victoria is one of the seven Great African Lakes located in rift valley East African Rift. The area of the reservoir is 68.8 thousand square meters. km. This is the second largest freshwater lake in the world. In first place is Lake Superior in North America with an area of 82.1 thousand square meters. km. But among the tropical lakes of the planet, the African reservoir takes first place. In Africa it is also considered the largest. But in terms of volume of fresh water (2750 cubic km) it only reaches 9th place.
The length of the lake is 337 km. The width is 250 km. The maximum depth is 83 meters, and the average depth is 40 meters. The reservoir is located at an altitude of 1133 meters above sea level. The length of the coastline is 4828 km. It is divided between three countries: Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. All figures are taken from the US Gazetteer.
Lake Victoria
The coastal strip around the lake is considered one of the most densely populated on the planet. More than 30 million people live here. Through northern part The lake passes the equator. The city of Entebbe is located right on it. The capital of Uganda, Kampala, is located 40 km southeast. It is home to 1.2 million people. In the south of the reservoir is the city of Mwanza with a population of 1.2 million people. It belongs to Tanzania. On west coast is the city of Bukoba with a population of 100 thousand people. And in Winam Bay in the northeast is the Kenyan city of Kisumu. It has 345 thousand inhabitants.
Concerning geological history, then Lake Victoria is considered relatively young. Its age is estimated at 400 thousand years. The reservoir periodically dried up and was filled with water again. According to experts, there were 3 such cycles. The last time the lake dried up was 17,300 years ago. Refilled with water 14,700 years ago. This is associated with ice ages, during which the amount of precipitation sharply decreased. But it is the rains that feed the lake 80% with water, and only 20% comes from tributaries.
Lake Victoria on the map
There are a lot of tributaries feeding the reservoir. The main one is considered Kagera River. Its length is 420 km. It flows into a vast reservoir from the east, but its main attraction is that the river is considered the source of the great African river Nile. Actually, Kagera has its own tributary, Rukarara. It is from its source that the waterway is calculated, ending in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
In the north, the Victoria Nile River flows from Victoria, which further downstream is renamed the White Nile, and then, after the confluence of the Blue Nile, a single water stream is formed, bearing the name Nile. Second large river, flowing out of the lake is called Katonga. It rushes its waters to the west and after 220 km flows into Lake George in Uganda, which is connected by the Kazinga Canal to Lake Edward.
The Nzoya River also flows into the reservoir. Its length is 257 km. It is an important waterway in Western Kenya. There are many waterfalls on it, which means great energy potential. Lake Victoria itself contributes to the production of electricity. energy through a dam near the city of Jinja in Uganda. This is where the Victoria Nile River flows out of the lake. But the water level in the reservoir is very capricious and unpredictable, so the hydroelectric power station does not operate at full efficiency. In addition, there is an opinion that the hydroelectric station takes more water than was provided for in the agreement between the states.
These are the ships that sail around Victoria
Water transport on a huge reservoir it is well developed. Since the early years of the 20th century, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya have been connected by ferries. In 1963, the fastest ferry built in Kenya was launched. In 1966, a train ferry was created between Kenya and Tanzania.
But the achievements of civilization sometimes bring grief to people. On May 21, 1996, the ferry Bukoba sank in the lake. It carried passengers between the Tanzanian cities of Bukoba and Mwanza. The ship was designed for 430 passengers and 850 tons of cargo. The tragedy occurred 56 km from Mwanza. The ferry sank to the bottom at a depth of 25 meters, killing 987 people. The main cause of the disaster was overload vehicle. This tragedy is considered one of the largest in Africa.
Lake Victoria was discovered in 1858. Humanity owes this to the British officer John Hennig Speke (1827-1864). He reached south coast during the exploration of Central Africa. Seeing a huge expanse of water in front of him, the Englishman named it in honor of Queen Victoria. The officer also stated that he had finally found the source of the Nile, as he believed that the great river flows from this huge reservoir. But this statement caused disagreement among his partner Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890). All this gave rise to long discussions.
These days, every schoolchild knows that John Speke was right. The Nile actually flows from Victoria, and the huge reservoir also provides food and work to the huge number of people who live on its banks. The picture is darkened only by the merciless lake pollution. Industrial enterprises discharge untreated wastewater into it. lake bottom serves as a burial place for chemical fertilizers and household waste. All this negatively affects the ecosystem. The situation is aggravated by the decrease in water level in the reservoir. So the prospects are not bright, and life on the shores of Victoria is hard and difficult.
Yuri Syromyatnikov
) - national park, on the island of Maboko (Kenya), the remains of a monkey of the genus Victoriapithecus were discovered in Miocene deposits.
The lake was discovered and named in honor of Queen Victoria by the British traveler John Henning Speke in 1858.
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The local population called Lake Nyanza (actually lake). J. Speke added the name of Queen Victoria to the local name, and the lake until the 1920s. was called Victoria Nyanza. Currently, Victoria belongs to three states, and each of them has several names derived from the ethnonyms of the peoples living on the shores of this lake. In the 1960s, these countries discussed the issue of giving the lake a new, common name for all. Names suggested were in the Swahili language used in all three countries: Uhuru, - Liberty, independence; Shirikisho - union, Union; Umoja - unity, but no decision was made.
Formation
The lake occupies a gentle tectonic trough in the northern part of the East African Plateau, dammed from the north by a lava flow. It arose in the middle of the Anthropocene period during the formation of the Albert and Edward lake depressions in the central branch of the East African Rift Zone, which disrupted the previous flow into the Congo Basin. The new drainage system was turned east, towards a trough on the plateau, where a huge reservoir was formed, the area of which was especially large in pluvial eras. Ancient lake received flow to the west, into Lake Albert and further into the Nile system through the river. Victoria Nile at the formation of Murchison Falls. Victoria and lying north of the lake Kyoga - relics of an ancient reservoir.
Discovery of the lake by Europeans
On July 30, 1858, the English traveler and explorer John Henning Speke discovered Lake Nyanza to Europeans and named it in honor of Queen Victoria. There are notes from his travels, where, based on information received from the local population, he suggests that the lake is the source of the Nile. Returning to London, he proclaimed at the Royal Geographical Society the discovery of the source of the Nile River. In 1860, Speke led another expedition to Lake Victoria, during which he discovered the Kagera River, which flows into the lake, as well as the Victoria Nile River, which flows from it and forms the Nile River at its confluence with the Blue Nile. By going down the Victoria Nile River, and then making the same journey overland, he thereby proved that he had discovered the source of the Nile. Nevertheless, disputes in Europe continued until the return of the expedition by Henry Stanley, a correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune and famous traveler. He made three expeditions to Africa, on one of which he went to Lake Victoria and confirmed Speke's claim.
Climate
Average precipitation for the period 1956-1978 in millimeters
City January February March April May June July August September October November December In just a year Jinja 64 85 141 195 140 69 70 83 100 141 161 87 1336 Entebbe 88 101 179 260 235 121 69 79 72 126 179 111 1620 Kalangala 135 137 239 340 322 162 96 94 114 159 210 208 2216 Bukoba 150 180 254 398 316 89 51 66 102 153 195 193 2147 Kagondo 119 152 219 362 234 47 26 40 94 115 201 161 1770 Mwanza 102 114 156 177 71 16 15 21 25 99 158 146 1100 Musoma 59 84 123 182 101 24 21 22 31 53 117 78 895 Kisumu 71 98 155 234 175 79 63 90 84 87 139 102 1377 Geography
The banks are heavily indented, low and flat, often swampy; in the southwest they are high and steep. The length of the coastline is more than 7000 km. Large bays - Kavirondo, Speke, Smith Sound. Many islands with total area about 6 thousand km² (the largest are Ukereve and Sese Islands).
Near the eastern shores there is gold and diamond mining. The lake is connected to the coast Indian Ocean railway Kisumu - Mombasa and Mwanza - Tabora - Dar es Salaam.
North coast The lake is crossed by the equator. Lake at maximum depth 80 m refers to fairly deep lakes.
Unlike its deep-water neighbors, Tanganyika and Nyasa, which lie within the African gorge system, Lake Victoria fills the shallow depression between the eastern and western sides of the Great Gorge valley. The lake receives a huge amount of water from rain - more than from all its tributaries.
30 million people live in the vicinity of the lake. People live on the southern and western shores of the lake haya, who knew how to grow coffee long before the arrival of Europeans.
Hydrology
The lake is fed mainly by precipitation, from which it receives almost 80% of its total inflow. In addition, numerous rivers, tributaries and streams flow into it. The average water inflow is 114 km 3 regardless of sources. About 16 km 3 comes from tributaries, and 98 km 3 from precipitation. Annual evaporation from the surface reaches 93 km 3 . It is believed that over all the years of observation, the amount of water evaporating per year remains virtually unchanged. The average amplitude of lake level fluctuation is 0.3 m, and the maximum annual amplitude of the indicated 45-year observation is 1.74 m.
Research into the water balance of Lake Victoria began in 1938 by Hirst and Phillips. They are based on changes in water levels and rainfall using data going back to 1896. Average annual precipitation is up to 1151 mm, water consumption is 276 mm, runoff is 311 mm. Measurements and estimates are not precise, since the role of precipitation is underestimated, but the water balance has been calculated quite accurately.
More extensive research was carried out in 1970 by Bowie and Baker, who carefully analyzed the components of the balance in the lake's waters. From records of 8 long-term stations in the lake it follows that the average annual precipitation reaches 1,650 mm. The data was updated by the Institute of Hydrology in 1984. It was reported that the average annual precipitation ranged from 1949 to 1281 mm, and for 1961 - 2201 mm.
Between 1961 and 1964, the lake's regime underwent significant changes. These years were characterized by continuous and heavy rains, which raised the water level by 2.5 m. Additionally, the Nalubale Dam (Owen Falls) was built in 1954, which regulates the flow into the Victoria Nile River. This event led to the creation in 1967 of the Lakes Hydrometeorological Research Organization (WMO) as an affiliate of the WMO (World Meteorological Organization) and the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).
The level of the lake largely depends on the amount of rain. In recent years they have declined, which is explained, in addition to the general warming of the Earth's climate, also by the destruction of the forests of Africa, and the area around the lake. In 2010, the lake level reached its lowest point in 80 years, almost one meter lower than in 1990. The lake's water level has been measured since 1896. The highest levels were recorded in 1906 and 1917, but remained relatively stable until 1961 of the year .
Water balance of Lake Victoria for the period 1956-1978.
Year Inflow from precipitation (mm) Inflow from the river Kagera (m 3 x 10 6) Inflow from all sources (m 3 x 10 6) Inflow from all sources (mm) Outflow (m 3 x 10 6) Outflow (mm) Difference between inflow and outflow (m 3 x 10 6) Lake level near Jinja city (m) 1956 1787 4918 19 326 288 19 636 293 - 310 10,91 1957 1727 6299 18 121 270 20 112 300 - 1981 11,02 1958 1622 5412 14 629 218 19 671 294 - 5042 10,94 1959 1702 4730 13 310 199 18 434 275 - 5124 10,84 1960 1827 6160 17 526 262 20 348 304 - 2822 10,87 1961 2370 4895 21 856 326 20 577 307 + 1279 11,94 1962 1919 9114 36 136 539 38 716 578 - 2580 12,39 1963 2121 10 941 34 664 517 44 788 668 - 10 124 12,91 1964 2011 11 045 32 332 483 50 476 753 - 18 144 12,88 1965 1663 7760 17 428 260 46 878 700 - 29 450 12,48 1966 1889 7951 21435 320 42 950 641 - 21 515 12,32 1967 1752 6421 21 448 320 37 832 565 - 16 384 12,31 1968 2114 10 375 32 600 487 43 305 646 - 11 305 12,58 1969 1770 8923 21083 315 46 006 687 - 24 923 12,36 1970 1865 8477 27 572 412 44 282 661 - 16 710 12,45 1971 1639 7030 20 139 301 39 510 590 - 19 371 12,17 1972 1975 7587 19 950 298 37 540 560 - 17 590 12,35 1973 1749 7717 19 982 298 38 467 574 - 18 485 12,05 1974 1657 7331 20 946 313 35 046 523 - 14 100 11,97 1975 1826 6082 18 968 283 33 326 497 - 14 358 12,04 1976 1781 5932 14 409 215 34 835 520 - 20 426 11,82 1977 1938 6980 29 147 435 35 999 537 - 6852 12,13 1978 2041 8525 35 575 531 39 383 588 - 3808 12,56 On average for the period 1858 7418 22 982 343 35 136 524 - 12 154 Animal and plant life
Lake Victoria has more than 200 species of fish, of which the main commercial species are tilapia and Nile perch.
Its waters are home to a huge number of crocodiles, and a representative of an ancient group still lives here freshwater fish- a protopter that can breathe with both gills and lungs. This unique fish is a link between ordinary fish and land animals.
The tsetse fly lives on the coast and islands.
Rubondo
On the territory of the lake there are nature reserves and national parks. IN national park Rubondo Islands - Rubondo Island(450 sq. km) cannot be traveled by car in order to preserve the environment, which allows you to see animals from a closer distance while walking.
Ecological situation
The ecological state of the lake is in serious danger due to the intensive growth of the local population, clear deforestation along the entire coast, an overdeveloped fish export industry, the appearance and establishment of exotic plants and animals and, as a result, the disappearance of more than 50% of the local
