The world’s largest tropical lake, Lake Victoria – Africa’s largest by surface area- has recently been linked to the Serengeti, reports the Tanzania Times.
For years, a narrow gap approximately 3 kilometres wide separated Lake Victoria from the Serengeti National Park.
The Serengeti’s western corridor, now encompassing part of Lake Victoria, is a wildlife-rich region nestled between the expansive Mbalageti and Ruwana rivers. Lake Victoria contributes to the region’s biodiversity, supporting a variety of fish and bird species.
With this addition, the Serengeti has expanded by 54.67 square kilometres, now totalling 14,818 square kilometres, and remains the third-largest National Park in Tanzania.
Ecologists anticipate that the annual migration of nearly two million ungulates may eventually extend towards Lake Victoria, further integrating it into the Serengeti Ecosystem.
Facts about Lake Victoria:
- Africa’s Largest Lake: Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa by surface area, covering approximately 68,800 square kilometres.
- Young age: It is a relatively young lake, around 400,000 years old, formed by tectonic movements creating a basin in the East Africa Rift Valley.
- Shallow Depth: The lake is surprisingly shallow for its size, with an average depth of around 40 metres and maximum depth of about 83 metres.
- Inflow and Outflows: Lake Victoria’s main inflow comes from Kagera river and other smaller tributaries, while its main outflow is the White Nile, which flows northward from the lake towards Uganda.
- Expansive Shoreline: Lake Victoria’s shoreline stretches approximately 4,828 km.
- Island Abundance: The lake has over 3,000 islands, some of which are inhabited.
- Rich Biodiversity: Home to over 500 species of fish, as well as numerous birds and aquatic plants species.
- Invasive Species:
- Water Hyacinths: Invasive plants like water hyacinths have spread across Lake Victoria blocking waterways and clogging fishing areas, which impacts the lake’s ecosystem.
- Nile Perch: Nile perch, a large predatory fish, has drastically reduced the populations of native fish species, disrupting the lake’s biodiversity and altering its ecological balance.
- Climate Change Impacts: Climate change has led to inconsistent rainfall patterns in the region, causing Lake Victoria’s water levels to fluctuate more dramatically. Periods of intense rainfall can cause flooding, while prolonged droughts lead to lower water levels affecting fishing, agriculture and local water supplies.
