Lake Victoria - the great African lake

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Lake Victoria - the great African lake
Lake Victoria - the great African lake
Anonim

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. Speke. The locals call it Nyanza, which means "big water".

Lake Victoria is located quite high above sea level. The height reaches 1134m. In terms of the size of its water area, it exceeds the Aral and Azov Seas and ranks third after the Caspian Sea and Lake Superior in North America. The lake is filled with fresh water. The surrounding shores are mostly low and swampy. And only the southwestern shores abruptly break into the lake with steep cliffs.

lake victoria
lake victoria

African Hell

Lake Victoria is one of the most dangerous areas for navigation. Its low banks open 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 pretty terrible. Exhausting heat combined with high humidity during the wet period is followed by long periods of severe drought. Myriads of poisonous insects are waiting for their victims. This reservoir evaporates millions of tons of water and never becomes 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, both local and migratory. Here you can also meet rare animals, which are already few in other places.

lake victoria africa
lake victoria africa

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 long. 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 formation. It was formed only 750 thousand years ago, when the dinosaurs had already become extinct.

Drought

An unprecedented drought in 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 worsened. Waters are poisoned by chemical fertilizers, sewage, uncontrolled discharges of industrial waste.

lake victoria usa
lake victoria usa

Interesting facts

Some interesting facts.

Lake Victoria USA produced the first black president. His father grew up on its shores in Nyagoma Kogelo, Kenya.

Only on this lake can you find the sitatungi antelope that has disappeared elsewhere.

And only in these waters lives an unusual fish lang, whose gills work on the principle of lungs. Such fish gave rise to land animals.

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