Lake Victoria, also referred to as Victoria Nyanza, is the main reservoir of the Nile River and is also the largest lake in Africa. It is located in Tanzania and Uganda with a small part extending into Kenya. Lake Victoria occupies an area of approximately 26,800 square miles (69,480 sq. km) and is the second-largest freshwater lake in the world, the only larger one being Lake Superior in North America. From north to south, Lake Victoria is 210 miles (337 km) long and from east to west it is 150 miles (240 km) wide, with over 2,000 miles (3,220 km) of coastline. The lake is situated between the Western and Eastern Rift Valleys along the great plateau. It is 3,720 feet above sea level (1,134 m) and reaches a depth of 270 feet (82 m). Within the lake, one can find many archipelagos as well as numerous reefs just below the surface. Lake Victoria is known for its abundance of fish, which are exported by local fisherman. There are over 200 species of fish, which all make a major contribution to the economy. The lake lies within the Victoria basin, which covers an area of 92,240 square miles (238,900 sq. km). Lake Victoria receives most of its water from direct precipitation or from thousands of small streams. The largest stream flowing into this lake is the Kagera River, the mouth of which lies on the lake's western shore. The only river to leave the lake, the White Nile (known as the "Victoria Nile" as it leaves the lake), flows out at Jinja, Uganda, on the lake's north shore.
But sewage due to number of hotels situated on the shores of the Lake Victoria both in Entebbe and Kampala threatens the quality of water of the Lake. The Government of Uganda has to enhance the existing wastewater system in order to improve water quality of this important lake.
Daniel Massamba Meboya
Regional Communication Specialist
The Nile Basin Initiative
Entebbe, Uganda
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