Lake Tanganyika was discovered in the middle of the 19th century by English travelers Richard Burton and John Speke in Central Africa. Later, many famous travelers, such as David Livingston and Henry Stanley, took up the study of this unique natural fresh water reservoir.
The area around the lake is inhabited by the Ha tribe, who moved here several centuries ago from the western African regions and settled along the shores and surroundings of the lake - in Gombe.
Lake Tanganyika was formed on the East African Rift, one of the most unique geological formations on our planet. It stretches from the Middle East to Mozambique.
This large body of water is considered the second on Earth after Baikal in terms of its depth: its depth is almost 1500 meters. It, like its older brother, is distinguished by stunningly clear water, which allows you to see the bottom at a depth of 33 meters.
At the same time, Lake Tanganyika is considered the mostlongest in the world. It is 708 kilometers long and 80 kilometers wide.
Geologists believe that it was formed seven to ten million years ago. A huge body of water, concentrated in the deepest reservoir in Africa, is located on the border of four states at once: Burundi, Tanzania, as well as Zambia and Congo.
In general, Lake Tanganyika is considered a unique biological habitat on our planet, the so-called kind of evolutionary "showcase". For example, ninety-seven percent of all lake cichlid fish on Earth live only in its waters. There are seven types of crabs, five types of shellfish, etc.
In the waters of the lake you can find about 350 varieties of exotic fish. It is from these places that they are exported to the most prestigious aquariums in many cities on the planet, since Lake Tanganyika cichlids are very popular, especially in Europe.
There are two national parks around the lake: the Gombe Stream and Mahale reserves, in which about a thousand chimpanzees live in very fragile ecosystems. It is in these places that unique fishing is possible, as well as an unforgettable safari with observation of the life of these primates. On the territory of these two reserves, camps and safari lodges are set up, in which many tourists come to relax. Living in these places is a great opportunity to spend time enjoying the beautiful views of the lake away from the bustle of the city, as well as get to know many Africananimals.
Tanganyika is a lake where sports fishing for Nile perches, goliath fish and many other unusual species is extremely popular. Every year at the beginning of spring, a fishing championship is organized here, which attracts fishing enthusiasts from all over the world.
The ichthyofauna of Tanganyika is exceptionally rich in its species composition. Many of the species show a striking resemblance to similar marine ones, although the lake has fresh water. And the explanation of this specificity lies in the features due to the geological history of the lake.
Aborigines call it "a water tank full of fish." It is said that this name was given to the lake by the Swahili, who then went deep into the continent.
