Victoria, Lake

Lake victoria (or victoria nyanza) is the largest freshwater lake in Africa, and the second largest [Page 1893]freshwater lake in the world. The lake's total surface area amounts to nearly 27,000 square miles, about the same size as Ireland. Located in Tanzania and Uganda, it feeds the Nile River its greatest supply of water. The lakeshores are highly irregular and numerous reefs and islets are scattered across the surface. More than 200 species of fish are represented in the lake and many have economic value, especially the tilapia. The water surface is almost 4,000 feet above sea level and the lake reaches a depth of nearly 300 feet. The lake was first formed some 400,000 years ago and is vulnerable to rapid climate change. It ...