Lake Tanganyika was discovered in the mid-19th century by English travelers Richard Burton and John Speke in Central Africa. Later, many famous travelers, such as David Livingstone and Henry Stanley, began exploring this unique natural freshwater reservoir.
The area around the lake is inhabited by the Ha tribe, who migrated here several centuries ago from the western African regions and settled on the shores and environs of the lake - in Gomba.
Lake Tanganyika was formed on the line of the East African Fault, which is one of the most unique geological forms on our planet. It stretched from the Middle East to Mozambique.
This large body of water is considered to be the second on the Earth after Lake Baikal in its depth: its depth is almost 1,500 meters. It, like his elder brother, is distinguished by stunningly clear water, which allows you to see the bottom at 33 meters depth.
At the same time, Lake Tanganyika is considered the longest in the world. Its length is 708 kilometers with a width of 80 kilometers.
Geologists believe that it was formed seven to ten million years ago. A huge body of water, concentrated in the deepest reservoir in Africa, is located on the border of four states at once: Burundi, Tanzania, as well as Zambia and Congo.
In general, Lake Tanganyika is considered to be a unique biological habitat on our planet, the so-called peculiar evolutionary "showcase". For example, ninety-seven percent of all lake cichlid fish on Earth live only in its waters. Here live seven species of crab, five species of mollusks, etc.
In the waters of the lake can be found about 350 species of exotic fish. It is from these places that they are exported to the most prestigious aquariums in many cities on the planet, since the cichlids of Lake Tanganyika are very popular, especially in Europe.
Around the lake are two
national parks: the Gombe Stream and Mahale nature reserves, in the very fragile ecosystems of which about a thousand chimpanzees live. It is in these places that unique fishing is possible, as well as an unforgettable safari with observation of the life of these primates. Camps and safari lodges are arranged on the territory of these two reserves, in which many tourists come to relax. Living in these places is a great opportunity to spend time enjoying the beautiful
views of the lake away from the bustle of the city, as well as get to know many African animals.
Tanganyika is a lake where sports fishing for Nile perch, goliath fish and many other unusual breeds is extremely popular. Every year, in the beginning of spring, a fishing championship is organized here, which gathers fishing enthusiasts from all over the world.
The ichthyofauna of Tanganyika is extremely rich in its species composition. Many of the species exhibit stunning similarities with similar marine ones, although the lake has fresh water. And the explanation of this specificity lies in the features due to the geological history of the lake.
The natives call it "a water reservoir full of fish." They say that the Swahili gave this name to the lake, which then went deeper into the continent.