African Lake Victoria is located in the heart of Equatorial Africa. Its water area is located on the territory of three states: Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. This is one of the most picturesque lakes of this continent. Its area is 68 thousand km². The average depth does not exceed eighty meters. It is named after Queen Victoria by its discoverer D. Speak. Locals call it Nyanza, which means "big water."
Lake Victoria is located quite high above sea level. Height reaches 1134m. By the size of its water area, it exceeds the Aral and Azov Seas and takes third place after the Caspian Sea and Lake Superior in North America. The lake is filled with fresh water. The shores surrounding it are mostly low and swampy. And only the southwestern shores abruptly break into the lake with steep cliffs.
African hell
Lake Victoria is one of the most dangerous water areas for shipping. Its low coast opens the way to all winds, and its high location above sea level makes the weather unstable. Storms and hurricanes often occur here, accompanied by the appearance of tornadoes. The climate here is quite terrible. Exhausting heat combined with high humidity during the wet period gives way to long periods of severe drought. A myriad of poisonous insects await their victims. This pond evaporates millions of tons of water and never gets shallow. And yet, where Lake Victoria is located, Africa has been preserved in its most pristine form. The pond is teeming with fish. This attracts millions of waterfowl here, both local and migratory. Here you can meet rare animals, which in other places are few.
African Nessie
Lake Victoria has its own Nessie. Only in contrast to the Scottish local see quite often. Eyewitnesses describe her as an animal 4.5 m in length. His head is the size of a lion. Two white fangs protrude from the mouth. It is covered with scales and has a broad spotted back, as well as a thick and long tail. The animal is very aggressive. Maybe it's a dinosaur. But Lake Victoria is a very young entity. It was formed only 750 thousand years ago, when dinosaurs became extinct.
Drought
The unprecedented drought of recent years in Africa has led to the fact that the water level in the reservoir has decreased by 1 meter, which has never happened before. This led to the shutdown of many hydroelectric power plants located in its basin. This greatly undermines the economy of the entire lakeside region. In addition, the environmental situation has deteriorated. Water is poisoned by chemical fertilizers, sewage, uncontrolled waste dumps of enterprises.
Interesting Facts
Some interesting facts.
Lake Victoria USA gave the first black president. His father grew up on its shores in Kenya in the town of Nyagoma Kogelo.
Only on this lake can you meet the Sitatunga antelope that disappeared in other places.
And only in these waters an unusual lang fish lives, the gills of which work on the principle of lungs. Such fish gave rise to terrestrial animals.