The largest rivers and lakes in East Africa. African countries. Nile

Land waters: main river systems, lakes, groundwater basins, their hydrological features.

Pool	Name
Indian Ocean	Zambezi Limpopo
Atlantic Ocean	Nile (2nd longest in the world, 1st longest on the mainland) Congo (2nd deepest in the world, 1st deepest on the mainland) Senegal Niger Orange
Inland drainage basin (flow into Lake Chad)	Shari

The continental divide runs along the eastern highlands of Africa, resulting in the Atlantic Ocean basin accounting for 36.5% of Africa's area, the Indian Ocean basin - 18.48%, and Mediterranean Sea - 14,88%.

The flow is carried out mainly by five main rivers: Congo, Nile, Niger, Zambezi and Orange, whose basins cover about 1/3 of the area of Africa. Of these, Congo by volume of annual flow (1230 km 3 ) second only to the Amazon.

Endorheic basins and areas of internal drainage cover 30.5% of Africa's area; as a result of the increasing dryness of the climate, ancient lakes into which ancient rivers flowed decreased in size or disappeared. Such lakes existed in the Sahara (Paleo-Saharan Sea, etc.), in the Chad Basin (Paleo-Chad Lake).

Feeding most rivers mainly rain . Unpaved food predominates in semi-deserts and deserts.

Surface runoff distribution very uneven. The runoff layer reaches its greatest value (1000-1500 mm per year) in areas of excess moisture and outcrops of crystalline rocks and laterite layers (northwestern coast of the Gulf of Guinea, eastern slopes of Madagascar); in the Congo basin, the runoff layer is 500-600 mm. In subtropical latitudes, runoff increases to 200 mm. Almost all rivers in Africa have significant seasonal fluctuations in flow; in most rivers, flow is predominantly summer and autumn. In winter, runoff predominates in the northwestern and southeastern outskirts, in areas with a Mediterranean climate. 37% of Africa's area has episodic flow.

In Africa there are rivers following types :

equatorial (only with rain nutrition and uniform flow);
Sudanese (the most common - with a predominance of rain supply from summer and autumn runoff); Saharan (which includes temporary or occasional water pipes, in the Sahara are called wadi(ued));
Mediterranean (with rain and partly snow fed and a sharp reduction or cessation of summer flow).

Lakes

Palmost everything large lakes Africa lies in tectonic depressions on the East African plateaus: they are long, narrow and very deep.

Lake Tanganyika second place in the world in depth (1435 m) after Baikal.

Bmost in Africa Lake Victoria (area 68 thousand km 3 ) is the second freshwater reservoir on Earth after Lake Superior (USA).

Lake Tana , formed as a result of the damming of a valley by a lava flow, is the largest in the Ethiopian Highlands.

Lake Chad. a closed relic lake located in central Africa on the territory of four countries: Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria. With very rare abnormal increases in the lake level, water begins to flow along the Bahr el-Ghazal channel towards the Bodele depression. The lake is located in the southern part of a vast depression, at an altitude of approximately 240 m above sea level. The area of the lake and the water level in it vary greatly from year to year and by season, being directly dependent on the influx of water from the rivers feeding the lake, since the lake itself is located in a region with a very arid climate and precipitation provides less than 1/5 of the total volume of water entering the lake. Until the 60s of the 20th century, the area of Lake Chad ranged from 10 to 26 thousand km², but then a sharp reduction in size began and the area of the lake decreased to 1350 km².

Lake Rudolph . Located within the Great Rift Valley. There are 3 volcanic islands in the lake: South Island, Crocodile Island or Central Island, North Island. On south coast Teleki volcano is located. Several rivers flow into the lake, the most notable of which is the Omo. This river flows into the lake only five kilometers from its shore, flowing along the dam it created and forming a delta far from the shore. The lake itself has no flowing rivers; it is drainless.

Lake Nyasa . The third largest and southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley in East Africa, which fills deep depression in the earth's crust between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. The lake runs from north to south, length is 560 km, depth is 706 m. It is the ninth largest and third deepest (after Baikal and Tanganyika) among freshwater reservoirs in the world. It contains 7% of the world's liquid fresh water and creates the most diverse lake ecosystem in terms of the number of species, most of which are endemic. "Nyasa" is a Yao word that means "lake".

In the arid regions of Africa, relict lakes of internal drainage predominate, with relatively shallow depths, flat shores, and salty water (except for the brackish Lake Chad, which has underground drainage in the Bodélé depression). In the northwestern part of the Sahara and in the Atlas, temporary salt lakes are called shots or sebhas .

Groundwater lie at shallow depths under the beds of temporary watercourses; Groundwater is contained mainly in the continental Lower Cretaceous sandstones of the Sahara and Northern Sudan, in South Africa it accumulates in bedrock cracks, in sandstones and karst limestones of the Karoo system.

It is possible to use for irrigation surface, ground and underground waters. Irrigated lands in Africa make up less than 5% of all cultivated areas and are concentrated mainly in the valleys of the Nile (Sudan), Niger (Mali) and South Africa. The transport significance of African rivers is small due to the rapidity of many sections of the riverbeds.

Africa is the second largest continent after Eurasia, washed by two oceans and two seas. On its territory there are various landscapes, including many rivers.

general information

Rivers are distributed unevenly on the mainland. Characteristic feature for the rivers of Africa is the presence of rapids and waterfalls. That is why these water spaces are practically unsuitable for navigation. The full flow of rivers also depends on the climatic zones in which they are located. In the equatorial climatic zone The rivers are full almost all year round and form a dense river network. IN subequatorial belt rivers fill only during the rainy season, and in hot tropical climates there are no surface reservoirs, but they are widespread artesian pools. The major rivers of the African continent are the Nile, Congo, Niger, and Zambezi.

Nile

The Nile is the longest river in Africa. Its length is 6852 km. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea, originating on the East African Plateau. The Nile is not a flat river at all; on the way to the north, the waters of the river tend to go down, so in these places there are often rapids and waterfalls. The largest is Murchison Falls, which flows into Lake Albert. The Nile flows through the territory of many countries, for example, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt.

Rice. 1. River Nile.

The state of Sudan is sometimes called the “country of three Niles” - White, Blue and the main one, which is formed as a result of the merger of the first two. All permanent rivers of the country belong to the Nile basin and are concentrated mainly in the south and east.

Congo

The Congo River ranks second in size to the basin after the Nile. Its second name is Zaire, and it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The river flows in Central Africa through Angola and the Republic of Congo.

Congo is the most deep river in the world (230 m), as well as the deepest river in Africa. In the world, it ranks second after the Amazon in terms of abundance of water. The length of the river is 4,700 km, and the discoverer of these waters was the Portuguese traveler Diogo Can.

Rice. 2. Congo River.

Niger

This river flows through West Africa. In terms of length and area of the basin, it ranks third after the Nile and Congo. Niger has many tributaries, the largest of which is the Benue River. Also tributaries of the river are Milo, Bani, Sokoto, Kaduna.

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Compared with muddy waters The Nile Niger is considered a river with fairly clear water, as it flows mainly through rocky terrain and does not carry much silt. Niger lies in the equatorial and subequatorial zones, which are characterized by dry semi-desert areas and the presence of monsoons.

Lakes of Africa

There are 14 lakes on the African continent, seven of which are Great Lakes. African lakes. These include the Victoria, Albert and Edward, which flow into the White Nile, Taganyika and Kivu, which flow into the Congo. Lake Nyasa flows into the Zambezi, and Lake Rudolf is drainless.

The most big lake Africa is Victoria. It is located simultaneously on the territory of several countries: Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. The area of the water space is 68 thousand square meters. km.

Currently, the lake is a reservoir, and on its territory there are many parks and reserves.

Rice. 3. Lake Victoria.

What have we learned?

There are many rivers and lakes in Africa. The longest river is the Nile, and the largest lake is Victoria. Also big rivers Congo, Niger, Zambezi, which lie on the territory of several states, are considered.

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“The Dark Continent” is the name given to Africa, on whose vast territory one can find a variety of landscapes. The second largest continent after Eurasia crosses many rivers and washes 2 seas and 2 oceans: the Mediterranean in the north, the Red Ocean in the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean in the west, and the Indian Ocean in the south and east. Deep rivers flow through Africa, some of them are considered the largest and deepest on the planet.

Rivers and lakes of Africa on the map:

Nile: the longest river in Africa

This is the second longest river on the planet after the Amazon and the first on the African continent. The Great Nile saw the dawn of humanity. Representatives lived on its banks ancient civilization, evidence of their life has been preserved. Throughout the ages, peoples have worshiped greatest river.

The source of the Nile is a mystery of millennia

Africa's largest river has tributaries throughout its entire length, so it is difficult to determine where it originates. Geographers have been studying this issue for centuries. The ancient Egyptians - the indigenous inhabitants of the valley - were unable to give an intelligible answer to the question. Therefore, the ancient Greeks tried to solve it, in particular, the great thinker Herodotus argued that the Nile is born from the depths of Africa in the south, and then spreads to the sides. But this version was found to be erroneous.

The astronomer Ptolemy Claudius turned out to be closer to the truth, who wrote in his scientific works that the Nile originates in the Moon Mountains (Rwenzori Range at present). But in 1858, the English officer J. Hennig Speke discovered the highland Lake Victoria (1184 m above sea level), and scientists received evidence. They were then reinforced by other researchers that the Nile flows from there, more precisely, from Lakes Victoria the Kagera River originates, which is divided into tributaries. One of them is Rukarara, and its source is the beginning of the great White Nile.

Geography of the stream

Mighty River carries stormy waters to the north of the continent, rushing downwards, so rapids and waterfalls are often found along its length. The largest is the 40-meter Murchison, it erupts into Lake Albert, and the waters flowing from it are already called the Albert Nile. The way forward runs through the territory of Uganda, across the plain, and the seething stream calms down. Upon reaching the state of South Sudan, the artery changes its name again, and for 716 km it is called Bahr al-Jabel. In South Sudan it has a very branched appearance - many branches and islands between them.

Then the river merges with Lake Net and carries its waters to the capital of Sudan - Khartoum. Until now, the color of the stream was yellow due to an excess of light clay impurities, but beyond Khartoum the White Nile merges with the Blue Nile, and then the great Nile flows majestically across the continent. The Atbara tributary flows into it 300 km from the capital. Having become even deeper, the Nile enters the Sahara Desert, or rather its eastern part- Nubian.

Here Neil does flip flop south, then north again, and then his path runs through Egypt. On the border of Sudan and Egypt, it turns into Nasser - the largest man-made lake in the world (area 5250 m²). It was created by the Nasuan Dam, which hidden the rapids of the Nile and prevented its overflow. Further, the stream flows deep and wide through Egypt, flowing into the Mediterranean Sea not far from the Suez Canal, on its banks there are cities, including the capital of Egypt, Cairo. After leaving, the Nile splits into branches that create a vast delta, 160 km long, containing 10 cities and a large-scale ecosystem.

Congo (Zaire): the deepest river on the planet

This is the deepest river in Africa and the second longest. In terms of basin area, it confidently leads the list of African rivers. Most of it passes through the territory of the Republic of Congo. The discoverer is the navigator from Portugal Diogo Can.

Geography of the river

The source of the Congo is located in Zambia at an altitude of 1600 m. The mountains gradually give way to plains, where the stream flows freely into the valley with the formation of branches, channels and natural reservoirs, in some places 20 km wide. When the Congo reaches the South Guinean Highlands, it is squeezed into a gorge with a minimum width of only 300 m. Here it acquires its maximum depth (up to 230 m), which puts the Congo on the pedestal of the deepest rivers in the world. In addition, the site is famous for its rapids and drops, which have a name - Livingston Falls. At the end of the journey, the Congo pours into the Atlantic at the city of Banana.

The Congo is of strategic importance for the hydropower industry of the whole world, which is explained by its deep water and large degree of fall of the riverbed.

Niger: mystical river

Africa's third longest artery crosses 5 countries. For the state of Mali, Niger is the only source of fresh water, without which life for the local population would be extremely difficult.

Geography of the stream

What is mystical about Niger, you ask. This unique river, which, contrary to the laws of physics, does not go directly to the salty reservoir, but has the path of a boomerang. The stream, following a winding route, has confused researchers for centuries. In addition, the peoples inhabiting the shores of the Niger still believe that ancient spirits live in its waters.

The source of the river is in the eastern region of the Kong Mountains (Guinea) at an altitude of 850 m above sea level. At first it flows north, into the opposite side from the ocean, but in Mali it changes direction to southeast, and then to south. The mouth is located in the Gulf of Guinea of the Atlantic Ocean. At the meeting point with the Gulf of Niger, it forms a huge delta with an area of 25 thousand m². It begins near the city of Aba in Nigeria, 180 km from the Gulf of Guinea. It mainly contains swamps and mangroves. Niger has another so-called internal mouth, the Malians call it Masina. This is a swampy floodplain 425 km long, consisting of branch lakes and rivulets. At the other end, all reservoirs again create a single channel.

The Niger is a flood river; during the monsoon period (from June to October) it floods and swells widely. Its waters are home to a variety of fish, the main source of food for coastal residents.

Among the tributaries of the Niger, the largest is the Benue, at its widest point it is 3 km, and the waters here are the most powerful and turbulent. Navigation on the Niger does not pass along the entire route, but only in places, but the channel is unusually picturesque and attractive for tourists. Rapids and waterfalls occur in the upper reaches, and then the river flows through the plains and has a calmer course.

In addition to the three longest, other water streams on the continent deserve attention:

Zambezi. The fourth longest river is famous for the most famous waterfall in the world - Victoria Falls. Many travelers are interested in who discovered the Zambezi. It was David Livingston, an African explorer and missionary from Scotland, who later discovered the waterfall. Only 5 bridges were built across the river flow, and two large power plants are powered by it;
Limpopo. It exists not only in the fairy tale of Korney Chukovsky, but also actually occurs in southern Africa. Another name is the Crocodile River; alligators and hippos live on the banks and coastal waters.
Orange River. Its origins are in the Drakensberg Mountains of Lesotho in South Africa, and the artery flows west into the Atlantic Ocean.

Huge Africa intersects the set water arteries. They rush in swift streams from mountain heights, through plains and deserts, dissolving in the salty waters of the seas and oceans. In an extremely arid and hot climate, under the scorching rays of the sun, all the rivers of Africa bring prosperity and life to the inhabitants of the continent.

The area of Kivu is 2700 km². The maximum length of the lake is 89 km, width is 48 km. The average depth of the lake is about 240 meters, and the maximum depth exceeds 480 meters. The lake was formed as a result of volcanic activity. The water in Kivu is fresh. The coastline of the reservoir is indented, there are a lot of islands, the largest of which is called Idjvi.

The lake poses a potential danger as it contains methane deposits. Despite this, the shores are densely populated. People catch telapia, sardines, carp and catfish there. The Nyungwe, Kahuzi-Biega and Virunga Forest national parks are home to chimpanzees, antelope, elephants, buffalo and giraffes. Pelicans, ibises and gulls nest along the banks overgrown with bamboo and papyrus. The lake is shared between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.

general information

Rivers are distributed unevenly on the mainland. A characteristic feature of African rivers is the presence of rapids and waterfalls. That is why these water spaces are practically unsuitable for navigation. The full flow of rivers also depends on the climatic zones in which they are located. In the equatorial climate zone, rivers are full almost all year round and form a dense river network.

Tana

Tana covers an area of 3000 to 3500 km². The maximum length of the lake is 84 km, width is 66 km. The maximum depth during the rainy season does not exceed 15 meters. The lake was formed as a result of volcanic activity that blocked the flow of inflowing rivers about 5 million years ago. It was originally much larger than it is today.

Tana is a freshwater lake. A large African river, the Blue Nile, originates from it. Due to the gradual decline in water levels, the shores of the lake become swampy, becoming home to aquatic birds such as ducks, geese and pelicans. Locals They earn their living by catching fish, which is found here in abundance. The lake is located in Ethiopia.

Congo

The Congo is the deepest river in the world (230 m), as well as the deepest river in Africa. In the world, it ranks second after the Amazon in terms of abundance of water. The length of the river is 4,700 km, and the discoverer of these waters was the Portuguese traveler Diogo Can.

Rice. 2. Congo River.

Bangweulu

Surface area is constant open water is about 3000 km², and expands significantly when swamps and floodplains overflow their banks at the end of the rainy season in May. The total area of the lake and wetlands reaches 15,000 km². The average depth of Bangweulu does not exceed four meters. This freshwater lake is of tectonic origin.

Niger

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Compared to the murky waters of the Nile, the Niger is considered a river with fairly clear water, as it flows mainly through rocky terrain and does not carry much silt. Niger lies in the equatorial and subequatorial zones, which are characterized by dry semi-desert areas and the presence of monsoons.

Mweru

The area of the lake is 5120 km². The maximum length of the lake is 131 km, width is 56 km. The average depth does not exceed seven meters, and the maximum depth is about 20-27 meters. Fresh water filled the tectonic depression, shaped like a heart. Mweru is part of the Congo River system. Thanks to this, the lake level does not depend on weather changes and drought.

Lake map

There are 14 lakes on the African continent, seven of which are classified as the African Great Lakes. These include the Victoria, Albert and Edward, which flow into the White Nile, Taganyika and Kivu, which flow into the Congo. Lake Nyasa flows into the Zambezi, and Lake Rudolf is drainless.

The largest lake in Africa is Victoria. It is located simultaneously on the territory of several countries: Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. The area of the water space is 68 thousand square meters. km.

Currently, the lake is a reservoir, and on its territory there are many parks and reserves.

Rice. 3. Lake Victoria.

What have we learned?

There are many rivers and lakes in Africa. The longest river is the Nile, and the largest lake is Victoria. Also considered large rivers are the Congo, Niger, and Zambezi, which lie on the territory of several states.

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The length of the lake is 676 km from north to south, which is a kind of record, its average width is 50 km. total area equal to 32.9 thousand sq. km, the coastline stretches for 1830 km. The shore in many places consists of sheer walls, sometimes reaching a height of 2000 m. They are separated directly from the water by narrow flat strips. On a large-scale map of the area, it is easy to discern the massive outlines of the lake's many bays, bays and headlands.

The maximum depth, according to modern data, is 1470 m, the average is 600 m. The reservoir is located at an altitude of about 770 m above sea level. The Tanganyika bowl consists of 3 basins - Kigoma in the northern part with a maximum depth of 1300 m, Kungwa with a maximum depth of 885 m and Kipili in the south with a maximum depth of 1470 m.

Two rivers flow into Tanganyika - Ruzizi from the north and Malagarasi from the east; only 1 river flows out of the lake - Lukuga, which in the west flows into the Congo, carrying its waters to the Atlantic Ocean. Thus, Tanganyika is part of the Atlantic basin.

The annual flow of water into the lake from precipitation is almost 41 cubic meters, from tributaries - 24 cubic meters. The main water consumption (94.4%) is carried out by evaporation and amounts to 61 cubic meters.

The water on the surface is very warm; on particularly hot days it warms up to 30°C, while the temperature at depth does not exceed 6-8°C.

Lake Victoria, located in the eastern part, is considered the largest lake in Africa. The lake ranks 2nd in area among freshwater lakes in the world. The height above sea level is 1135 m. The length of the reservoir from north to south is 320 km. Shipping and fishing are developed on the territory of the lake.

Albert

The area of the lake is 5300 km². The maximum length of the lake is 160 km, width is 30 km. The average depth is 20 meters, the maximum depth does not exceed 60 meters. The reservoir is located in a tectonic depression. Throughout the year, the water in Alberta remains warm. Thanks to this, the ichthyofauna is well developed here.

Part of the coastline is represented by cliffs and ledges from which hot springs flow. The flat areas are covered with savannas. In some places the shores turn into wetlands, a favorite habitat of crocodiles and other dangerous reptiles. Lake Albert is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Rudolf

The area of the lake is 6405 km². The maximum length of the lake is 290 km, width is 32 km. The average depth does not exceed 30 meters, and the maximum reaches 109 meters. The water is brackish. The three adjacent islands are national parks. The tribes living on the sandy shores are engaged exclusively in fishing.

Chad

Historically, Lake Chad has ranked among the largest lakes in Africa, although its surface area varies greatly depending on the season and also from year to year. Previously, the area of the lake reached about 17,800 km², however, at the beginning of the 21st century it decreased to approximately 1,500 km². The average depth of the lake is 1.5 meters, the greatest depth is 11 meters.

Lake Chad was formed due to depression in the earth's crust. The coastal line is swampy. There are many islands in the northeastern part. The northern border is dunes. They grow in the south tropical plants. The waters of Lake Chad contain a lot of algae, which are a source of food for fish.

The largest lake in Asia

Name	Depth (m)	Area (km 2)	Volume (km 3)
Caspian Sea	1026	372000	79548
Upper	406	82003	12107
Victoria	81	68900	2770
Huron	229	59600	3538
Michigan	282	58030	4928
Tanganyika	1480	32873	18800
Baikal	1640	316500	24000
Great Bear Lake	446	31080	2236
Malawi (Nyasa)	696	29044	8390
Great Slave Lake	624	28940	2100
Erie	65	25720	490
Winnipeg	37	24553	293
Ontario	250	19507	1739
Ladoga lake	229	18129	910
Balkhash	27	18399	110
East	999	15700
Lake Onega	119	9892	279
Titicaca	279	8145	900
Nicaragua	24	7900
Athabasca	253	7890	199
Taimyr	25	4600
Turkana	105	6395	214
Raindeer Lake
Issyk-Kul	179	6200	2038
Urmia	14	5901
Wenern	107	5445	149
Winnipegosis	260	5503
Albert	59	5309	279
Mweru	30	5130	40
Nettiling		5049

The largest bodies of water that are included in the Top 30 largest large lakes the world, located mainly in Eurasia and America.

The largest lakes in the world: what are they, where are they located and why are they unique?

The largest lake in Russia is the Caspian Sea, which is also called the “Caspian Sea”. The lake has no connection with the World Ocean, and therefore is drainless.

The bottom of the Caspian Sea is Earth's crust, which belongs to the oceanic type, so scientists claim that the age of the reservoir is at least 12 million years. The shallowest part of the lake is the northern part, its depth on average is only 4 m.

The largest lake in Europe is freshwater Lake Ladoga. Cold gusty winds prevail over the surface of the reservoir.

The greatest depth of the lake – 229 m – is reached in the northern part of the reservoir. For 160 years, the northern part of the coastal shores was actively mined for construction and decorative rock. There are more than 650 islands on the territory of Lake Ladoga.

Tonle Sap is the largest lake in Asia, which is located in its southeastern part. The reservoir is freshwater. Locals call Tonle Sap the “Baikal of Cambodia”. Fishing is well developed on the territory of the lake, since its waters are home to more than 3 hundred species of fish.

For several months of the year the lake has a relatively small area, but during the rainy seasons its area reaches 16,000 km2.

The largest body of water in North America Lake Superior is considered a freshwater lake. In the southern part of the coastal environs, flat terrain predominates, while in the northern part there are mainly rocky shores. IN warm months The sandy shores of the lake serve as a recreation area for local residents.

The water temperature in the depths is constant and amounts to 4 degrees. There are many islands on the surface of the lake; the length of the largest of them is 72 km. The lake attracts visitors with the diversity of the surrounding landscape, so thousands of tourists come to the reservoir every year.

Maracaibo is considered the largest lake in South America. More than 20% of the total population live in coastal areas South America. Sometimes the lake is called a strait, as it is connected by a strait to the Gulf of the Caribbean Sea.

The length of the reservoir is 160 km from north to south. The most deep places located on the south side of the lake. The age of the reservoir is about 30 million years. The reservoir is of tectonic origin.

Lake Eyre is the largest endorheic lake in Australia. The reservoir received its name in honor of its discoverer, Eyre. The lake is located 15 m below sea level, and during the rainy season its absolute height can reach 9 m below sea level. The salinity of the lake at a depth of 4 m is identical to the salinity of water in the sea.

There are about 117 million lakes in the world, which occupy 4% of the Earth's surface. The largest lakes are located in the territory Russian Federation and in the European part of the mainland.

Article design: Oleg Lozinsky

Nyasa

The area of Nyansa is 29,604 km². The maximum length of the lake is 560 km, width is 75 km. The average depth is 292 meters, the maximum depth is 706 meters. The lake is considered one of the deepest on Earth. It was formed at the site of a tectonic fault. The coastline is amazingly diverse. There are rocky shores, bays, sandbanks and river deltas.

There are 1,000 species of fish in the lake, many of which live at great depths. The abundance of ichthyofauna attracts birds such as eagles, herons and cormorants. Large animals are represented mainly by hippopotamuses and crocodiles. Lake Nyansa is located in the following areas: African countries: Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Tanganyika

The area of the lake is 32900 km². The maximum length of the lake is 673 km, width is 72 km. The average depth is 570 meters, the greatest depth is 1470 meters. The reservoir is located in a tectonic depression. Over the 10 million years of its existence, the lake has never dried up, so there is a unique undersea world.

The coastline has a rocky landscape. In the east it is represented by a flat strip. Tanganyika is associated with molluscs, crustaceans, amphibians and waterfowl. Millions of people live along the shores of the lake, so shipping is developed on it. Tanganyika is located in Tanzania, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Victoria

Victoria is the largest freshwater lake on the African continent, and covers an area of approximately 68,800 km². The maximum length of the lake is 337 km, width is 250 km. The average depth is 40 meters, the greatest depth is 83 meters. The coastline is low and flat. In the north the land is covered with savannas, and in the west - equatorial forests.

The lake is home to 200 species of fish. The adjacent forests are home to lizards, exotic birds, porcupines and mongooses. Rubondo Island Nature Reserve is a gem for tourists. Major threats to Lake Victoria include deforestation, water pollution and water lily overgrowth. The lake is found in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

On the vast, arid continent of Africa, rivers represent life and well-being. The life-giving power of water arteries penetrates mountains, plains, deserts, and goes out into the sea. Some African rivers are recognized as the deepest and longest on the planet.

general information

The river system belongs to the world waters of the Atlantic and Indian. The third factor is determined by internal runoff.

The watercourses of the Atlantic waters occupy half of the land in Africa. 30% of the territory is covered by internal drainage reservoirs. The Indian Ocean receives flows from a fifth of the continent.

The characteristics of the flow intensity are determined by undeveloped river channels. The upper reaches are marked by turbulent, rushing streams. In the lower reaches there are rapids areas with waterfalls. Among them, Victoria Falls on the Zambezi became world famous. The stepped surface affects the limitation of navigation along the entire length of watercourses. It is carried out only in certain areas. However, this deficiency is being made up for by the development of hydropower, which accounts for 20% of Africa's energy resources.

The state of the water area is influenced climatic zones. Most reservoirs are filled by rain. Reserves from sediments are available to a few reservoirs in mountainous area. At the equator, high water levels are observed throughout the year.

The water content is different in the subequatorial zone, where the shallow water begins. In the tropics, river reserves are becoming scarce. Moisture occasionally enters dry riverbeds. The African platform, with its slope, influences the geography of rivers. A significant flow goes into the bowels of the Atlantic.

Nile - River of Africa

The Nile is the longest river in Africa. She is welcomed on the lands of numerous countries in the north of the continent. Along its route, the Nile is subject to a variety of weather and terrain conditions. The river is recognized as the longest not only in Africa. On a planetary scale, it is second only to the Amazon.

Characteristics of the watercourse:

length – 6680 kilometers;
filling – 2.9 million km2;
flow rate - 2590 m3/sec.

The Nile remains a geographical mystery to this day. Scientists cannot reach a consensus on the place of origin natural wonder. The ancient thinker Herodotus wrote that the Nile begins in southern Africa. The version of Ptolemy Claudius claimed that the beginning is the Rwenzori range (in ancient times the Moon Mountains). The truth came with the discovery of Lake Victoria in the 19th century. Research has confirmed that the source is located in one of the tributaries of the Kagera River - Rukarara.

Throughout its entire length, the Nile's bed changes character - calm and rapids, deep and shallow.

The current rushes north, rushing from above into the lowlands. Falls down with powerful waterfalls. From a height of 40 meters, the Murchison Cascade flows into Lake Albert, from which the Albert Nile originates. The Ugandan plain calms the rushing stream. Neil reaches South Sudan, where it is divided into many branches.

The further course of the watercourse intersects with Lake Net and reaches the capital of Sudan - Khartoum. At this point, the water changes color from yellow, due to clay impurities, to a transparent color. For this reason, they begin to call it not the White Nile, but the Blue Nile.

The next tributary, the Atraba, further fills the basin in front of the Sahara Desert. The great Nile flows in a wide strip across the Egyptian expanses to the Suez Canal, where it flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The end of the path is characterized by spreading into separate branches, the formation of a huge estuary.

Congo

Congo or Zaire is one of the significant rivers in Central Africa. It is the deepest on the continent.

The streams fall from the 1580 m highlands of Zambia called Chambezi. As it flows, it leaves behind cascades and turbulent streams of Central African territory. It reaches the shores of the Atlantic through a 12-kilometer deep channel.

Characteristics of the watercourse:

length – 4376 kilometers;
volume – 3675 km2;
maximum depth – 240 m.

The African river has many diverse tributaries.

Shipping is developed in many areas. Africans extract oil, clay, sand. The main source of food remains river resources - fish and plants. There are many power plants in operation.

Niger

The third longest river in Africa has its main advantage - fresh water. The Niger River, which originates in Guinea, is an indispensable source of life-giving moisture in West Africa.

Characteristics of the watercourse:

length – 4155 kilometers;
volume – 2096;
annual flow – 270 km3

From the mountain peaks of 850 m, the watercourse moves north along the Malian plain, where it abruptly changes direction to the south. It flows through the territory of Nigeria, Benin to the Gulf of Guinea - the mouth of the Niger. The intricate winding river route has always instilled mystical sentiments in the aborigines. Local residents consider the source sacred, believe in ancient spirits and protect it from foreigners.

At the mouth there is a vast delta. The unique reservoir has an internal mouth called Masina. The swampy valley is flooded by rivers and lake overflows for a length of 427 km.

One of the important tributaries, the Benue, makes the watercourse deep and wide - up to 3.5 km. Heavy rainfall combines the tributary with Lake Chad.

Navigation depends on the topography and the fullness of the basin, so it is not present on the entire river.

Rivers of Africa on the Map

The water system of the continent consists of lakes and rivers of Africa, marked on the map. The hydraulic system of antiquity has been modified over the centuries, thanks to large reservoirs on the site of current deserts. With climate change, the surface of the earth changed, becoming mountainous on the outskirts of the plateau. Their slopes were sources of new reservoirs. Today they make up modern maps water areas, deserts and savannas.

Largest African rivers

Noting the largest rivers in Africa, we should characterize the fourth longest - the Zamzebi, stretching for 2570 km. The Zambezi, crossing the Angolan savanna, ends up in Mozambique. The long river of Africa ends its journey in the waves of the Indian Ocean.

In the mountains South Africa the Orange River is born. A section of 2190 km washes the shores of South Africa and Namibia, ending in the waves of the Atlantic. Vessels do not sail along the Orange River due to the shallowness of the watercourse. The name of the watercourse has nothing to do with color scheme. The name is associated with the name of the Dutch nobleman William of Orange. Over the years, the name has transformed and turned from Orange to Orange.

Which African river is the most famous in Russia? The river, glorified by the writer Korney Chukovsky, is known to everyone as the Limpopo. Throughout the 1,590 km waterway it is fed by numerous small and medium-sized streams. Flows into the Indian Ocean.

Senegal – large river in West Africa creates a natural boundary between states. The reservoir's capacity is more than 400 thousand km2.

List of important river arteries in Africa

Atraba - plays the role of a right-hand tributary of the Nile at a distance of 1130 km. It is a geographical landmark for Ethiopian and Sudanese settlements. During the dry season, the lower reaches dry out; during the monsoon season, it fills and reaches the Nile.
Juba is a watercourse of Ethiopian and Somali lands with a shared basin of 748 thousand square meters with Webi-Shebeli. km. Full-flowing river Africa has important economic importance, thanks to shipping.
Lualaba - that's what it's called upstream Congo, which is 2100 km long from the source to the Boyoma Cascades.

Conclusion

The river basins of the African continent give life to its inhabitants. Many rivers are not so significant in scale and not the largest, but they enliven the landscape and contribute to the development of livestock and agriculture.

Given that most of the continent's peoples live in poverty, water supply is of strategic importance. Hydroelectric power stations are being built on rivers. They supply the local population with resources and contribute to the development of industrial facilities. Many bodies of water are taken under the protection not only of individual states, but also on a planetary scale.