Let’s Get To Know The Great Lakes In Africa

In the African region of the Great Rift Valley you can find multiple lakes of different names and extensions. This area, called The Great Lakes of Africa, is one of the regions with the largest population in the world, (more than 107 million inhabitants). Due to the great volcanic activity that was registered in the past, this place has become an important cultivation area.

The beauty of the Great Lakes of Africa

Lake Tanganyika

This lake is estimated to be one of the largest on the planet in terms of depth and volume, second only to Lake Baikal in Siberia. It is also the largest freshwater lake that exists so far, since it even extends through four border countries such as the Congo, Zambia, Tanzania and Burundi. Both the Congo and Tanzania benefit from more than 40%.

Lake Tanganyika stretches up to 673 kilometers and is 50 kilometers wide on average. It is surrounded by mountains and is home to more than 150 species of cichlid fish. In fact, various studies have been carried out regarding the evolution of various marine species in the lake and some of these are endemic, among them the “Tanganyika sardines”.

Fishing in the lake is in high demand as it is the favorite food of the local people and the main source of income in this part of Africa. Today around 45,000 people work in fishing, who distribute their activity in 800 points in the region. Today the fish from Lake Tanganyika is exported to the countries of Central Africa.

Lake Malawi

Another of the great lakes of the Rift Valley, known in the Yao language as Nyasa. This part of East Africa became known in Europe thanks to the explorations of David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary who made astronomical observations in Africa and who was known for his protests against slavery. Lake Malawi is up to 560 kilometers long.

The shores of the lake are divided between three countries in Africa which are Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi. Also, in this lake there are two islands inhabited by more than a thousand people each. The main one is Likoma, which features a majestic Anglican cathedral, built in the 20th century by missionaries. The landscapes on the islands are sublime thanks to the presence of multiple baobab trees.

A curiosity: in 1914 a naval battle was recorded in Lake Malawi.  The incident occurred because a British ship that was informed of the start of the First World War prepared to attack a German ship that was prowling in the area. This happened in the waters of the territory of Tanzania, which at that time was a German colony in West Africa.

Lake Turkana

The Turkana, also known as the “Jade Sea” is a lake that belongs to Kenya. It is located in one of the most desert areas in Africa and  is the largest permanent and alkaline lake in the world.  As far as geological characteristics are concerned, the lake is found in predominantly volcanic areas and the air currents that occur in this part are recurrent.

This African lake was called Turkana from 1975, since previously it received the name of “Rudolf”, in homage to the Archduke Rodolfo de Habsburgo. To access this lake you need to travel from Nairobi and it is approximately 3 days of travel.  The little access to the lake has contributed enormously to its conservation. In addition, various hominid remains have been found.

Lake Turkana once had the largest colony of crocodiles in the world, since a number of up to 14,000 of these animals coexisted on the central island. In addition, thanks to its arid environment, it is the favorite area for many migratory birds. Near the lake you can also see giraffes, cheetahs and lions, among other species of mammals.

Visiting one of these great lakes in Africa will be an adventure for those who seek to live with the wildest nature.