LAKES AFRICA
The largest lakes in Africa:

Name

Area km sq

Maximum depth m
Victoria Lake
Tanganyika lake
Nyasa lake
Chad Lake
Rudolph Lake
Albert (Mobutu-Sese-Seko) lake
Mveru lake
Bangweulu lake
Tana lake
Kivu lake
Kyoga lake
Rukva lake
Mai Ndombe lake
Edward Lake

African Great Lakes- Several large lakes located in and around the Rift Valley. It includes Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world, and Tanganyika, the second deepest and largest in the world. List of lakes: Tanganyika, Victoria, Albert, Edward, Kivu, Malawi.
Some of the Great Lakes include only Lakes Victoria, Albert and Edward, since only these three lakes have a drain into the White Nile. Tanganyika and Kivu flow into the Congo River system, while Malawi flows into the Zambezi via the Shire River.

Tanganyika- a large lake in Central Africa, coordinates of the central part - 5 ° 30 S. NS. 29 ° 30 E (G).
In terms of volume and depth, Lake Tanganyika ranks second after Lake Baikal. The shores of the lake belong to four countries - the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Burundi.
The lake is about 650 km long, 40-80 km wide. The area is 34 thousand sq. Km. Lies at an altitude of 773 meters above sea level in the tectonic depression of the East African Rift Valley.
The lake is home to hippos, crocodiles, and many waterfowl. Fishing and shipping are well developed.

Victoria, Victoria Nyanza, Ukereve (Victoria, Victoria Nyanza) - a lake in East Africa, in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Located in the tectonic trough of the East African Platform, at an altitude of 1134 m. The second largest freshwater lake in the world after Lake Superior and the largest lake in Africa.
The area is 68 thousand square kilometers, the length is 320 km, the maximum width is 275 km. It is part of the Victoria Reservoir. Many islands. The high-water Kagera river flows in, the Victoria-Nile river flows out. The lake is navigable, the locals are engaged in fishing on it.
The northern coast of the lake crosses the equator. The lake with a maximum depth of 80 m belongs to a fairly deep lake.
Unlike its deep-sea neighbors, Tanganyika and Nyasa, which lie within Africa's gorge system, Lake Victoria fills a shallow depression between the east and west sides of the Great Gorge Valley. The lake receives a huge amount of water from the rains, more than from all of its tributaries.
A huge number of crocodiles are found in its waters, and also the lang fish (fish) still lives here, which lived here 300 million years ago. She can inhale and retain air in the gills as in the lungs. This rare fish is the link between common fish and land animals.

Malawi(Nyasa) is a lake in Central-East Africa. The lake runs from north to south, its length is 560 km, depth is 706 m. The northern and eastern coasts are steep with a poorly developed shelf, the southern and western coasts are gentle. Water losses occur from surface evaporation (80%) and from the waters of the Sheri River flowing out in the south of the lake. Climatically, there are two seasons: rainy (November - May) and dry (May - November).

Lake Chad(Tchad, Chad, in Arabic Bar-es-Salaam) is a closed relict lake located in central Africa. Located at an altitude of 240 m above sea level.
The surface of the lake is not constant: usually occupying about 27 thousand square meters. km, the lake in the rainy season spills up to 50 thousand, and in the dry season - shrinks to 11 thousand square meters. km. From the south, the Shari rivers with a wide and shallow delta and Mbulu flow into the lake, from the west - Komadugu-Vaube, and from the east - the shallow Bar-el-Ghazal. According to Nachtigall, the inflow of water through rains and rivers is 100 cubic meters. km, and the loss of water through evaporation is 70 cubic meters. km. Due to the absence of a visible source of water from the lake, while the water of the lake remains fresh, Nachtigall assumes the existence of an underground channel in the northeast direction to the Aegea and Borku. Near the mouths of the rivers, the water in the lake is fresh, in the rest it is slightly brackish; the insignificance of mineralization is explained, apparently, by the constant change of water in the lake due to the underground outflow of infiltration waters. In a very rainy season (which happens very rarely), with extraordinarily high levels of the water's edge, a temporary surface runoff of the lake is formed in the northeast (along the dry channel of Bahr el-Ghazal). The dark, dirty water of the lake is densely overgrown with algae in places. From July to November, under the influence of rains, the water level gradually rises and the low southwestern coast is widely flooded almost to Cook. Over a considerable area, the lake is very shallow (here you can wade on horseback); the western part near Ngornu and Maduari is very deep. The maximum depth during the rainy season is 11 meters. The banks are mostly swampy and overgrown with papyrus; to the northeast, the area has the character of a steppe, and only the southern coast is distinguished by rich tropical vegetation.
In the eastern part, the lake is covered with a network of islets (up to 100 in number), of which the groups of Buduma, Karka and Kuri are inhabited (up to 30 thousand people) by immigrants from neighboring tribes (Buduma, Kuri, Kanemba, Kanuri, Bulala and Datsa).
In 2006, a lake with an area of ​​23 thousand square kilometers, located on the borders of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and the Republic of Chad, decreased 26 times and continues to dry up, which became known thanks to the Earth monitoring carried out by the international system "Disaster Monitoring Constellation". Chad is known to dry up for the seventh time in the last millennium. Scientists - paleontologists have established this from the remains of animals found there.

Assal- a crater lake in the center of Djibouti. The lake lies 155 m below sea level in the Afar lowland, this is the lowest point in Africa. The salinity of the lake is 35%, it is the saltiest lake in the world. The lake is surrounded by a dense, saline soil layer. Salt is mined and sent in caravans to Ethiopia.

Name

Deepest

(in meters)

Height above sea level

(in meters)

Victoria

Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda

Tanganyika

Tanzania, Zambia, Congo, Burundi

Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi

Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger

Kenya, Ethiopia

Mobutu Sese-Seko

Uganda, Congo

Zambia, Congo

Bangweulu

Rwanda, Congo

Uganda, Congo

According to the origin of the lake basin in Africa, there are 3 types of lakes: 1) tectonic, 2) relic, 3) volcanic.

The lakes of East Africa for the most part are of tectonic origin. Great Lakes are created by Great Rifts. Most of these lakes lie on the bottom of rift depressions, which began to fill with water almost from the moment of their inception (or, more precisely, their revival as a result of the latest movements of the earth's crust). Among the rift lakes there are large and small, deep and shallow, fresh and salty. But almost all of them have a characteristic elongated shape, determined by the outlines of the rifts themselves. As a rule, lakes are located in fault depressions (grabens) in a row, one after another, forming long chains or garlands. The first thing that catches the eye when looking at the physical map of East Africa is a unique chain of large lakes, which begins in the south with Nyasa and continues with the lakes of the Western Rift - Rukvoy, Tanganyika, Kivu, Edward and Albert. Another lake garland is located on the territory of the Eastern Rift and its spurs; here, however, there is only one large lake - Rudolph, but there are many small ones. Mveru stands somewhat apart among the faulty lakes: it occupies an independent graben, which is believed to be a lateral branch of the Western Rift, but has no direct connection with it in the modern relief. Almost all large lakes in Africa lie in deep rift depressions (grandiose faults in the earth's crust) on the East African Plateau and are tectonic (Tanganyika, Nyasa, Edward, Albert, Kyoga, Mweru Rudolph, Victoria). Most of them are deep and bordered by steep slopes. Basins of Tanganyika and Nyasa lakes. Tectonic and volcanic processes in East Africa did not occur simultaneously, but over a very long period. It is therefore quite natural that the East African lakes are of different ages. Among them there are “old people” who were formed millions of years ago, and there are “young people” whose age is measured “only” in millennia (and in some small lakes - hundreds and even tens of years). Almost all large lakes are among the "old people". They have gone through a long and complex evolution. Their level and outlines have repeatedly changed depending on the movements of the earth's crust and climate fluctuations, primarily the conditions of moisture. In the era of a humid climate, the size of lakes increased, and some of the water bodies that are now isolated from each other merged together. On the contrary, during dry epochs, the area of ​​lakes was greatly reduced, and many of them dried up altogether. All these and other features of their history have left a noticeable imprint on the modern appearance of the lake basins and the lakes themselves, had a strong influence on the development of life in lake waters.

From a hydrographic point of view, the lakes of East Africa can be subdivided into four large groups. The first is formed by the famous Nile lakes. The upper, "head" natural reservoir of the Nile system is Lake Victoria, which receives many tributaries - including the Kageru, the source of the Nile farthest from the mouth of the Nile. Out of this huge natural reservoir, the Victoria Nile flows through the shallow Lake Kyoga and then into Lake Albert; this latter also receives the Semliki River, the drain of Lake Edward. Finally, the Albert Nile River emerges from Lake Albert - the upper reaches of the White Nile, the main (in length) branch of the great African river, which ends its way with the confluence of the Mediterranean Sea.

The second group consists of four lakes belonging to the Konto basin, and thus to the Atlantic Ocean basin. Two of them, Bangweulu and Mweru, are links of a complex lake-river system (Chambeshi River - Bangweulu Lake - Luapula River - Mweru Lake - Lovua River), which is considered the eastern source of the Congo. The other two lakes - Kivu and Tanganyika, connected by the Ruzizi River, have a drain in the Congo (Lualaba) through the Lukugu River.

The third hydrographic element is Lake Nyasa, which sends its waters along the Shire River to the Zambezi. Besides him, there are no large lakes belonging to the Indian Ocean basin in East Africa.

As the fourth and last group, numerous lakes that have no discharge into the ocean can be distinguished. These are, firstly, all the lake reservoirs of the Eastern Rift from Lake Rudolph in the north to Lake Manyara in the south; second, Lake Rukwa in the southern branch of the Western Rift; third, Lake Shirva in one of the lateral spurs of the Nyasa rift. Unlike the lakes of the three previous groups, the water in which is fresh (only in the Kivu it is brackish), the water bodies of the fourth group are mostly salty. In addition to those listed, there are other closed lakes in East Africa (for example, many crater lakes), but all of them are insignificant in size and are of no particular interest to us now.

Nyasa is a tectonic lake formed as a result of the fracture of the earth's crust. Depression is a depression on the earth's surface that lies below sea level, crypto is a prefix to the structure's name for its thin appearance. The third largest and most southerly of the Great Rift Valley lakes in East Africa, which fills a deep depression in the earth's crust between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. The lake runs from north to south, its length is 560 km, depth is 706 m. It is the ninth largest and the third deepest (after Lake Baikal and Tanganyika) among the world's freshwater bodies. 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.

Rice.

The lake fills a crack in the earth's crust at the southern end of the Great Rift Valley, as a result of which it is elongated in the meridional direction and is 584 km long, its width varies from 16 to 80 km. The surface of the lake lies at an altitude of 472 m above sea level, its area is 29 604 km², the average depth is 292 m, the maximum depth is 706 m, that is, the deepest places of the lake are below sea level. The total volume of the lake is 8 400 km³. The depths gradually increase from south to north, where the steep slopes of the mountains surrounding the lake suddenly burst right into the water. Elsewhere on the coast, mountains and peaks rising along the edges of the rift valley are separated from the lake by a wide coastal plain; at the places where large rivers flow into the lake, the coastal plain expands and joins the river, going deeper into the mountain ranges. As a result, the topography of the coastline ranges from rocky steep shores to extensive beaches. The coastal plains are especially wide in the northwest, where the Songwe River flows into the lake, as well as in the southern part of the coast.

The bottom of the lake is covered with a thick layer of sedimentary rocks, in some places up to 4 km thick, which indicates the great age of the lake, which is estimated at least several million years.

The main part of the lake basin is occupied by uplands and mountains, which are the boundaries of the rift valley. The highest of them are the Livingston Mountains in the northeast (up to 2000 m) and the Nyika Plateau and the Vipya and Cimaliro Mountains in the northwest and the Dova Upland in the west; in the south, the terrain is gradually decreasing. The lake basin is much wider to the west of the lake. In the east, the mountains come close to the water, and the basin narrows, expanding only in the northeast thanks to the Ruhuhu River, which cuts through the Livingstone Mountains. The lake is fed by 14 year-round rivers, among which the most important Ruhuhu, Songwe, North and South Rukuru, Dwangwa, Bua and Lilongwe ... The only external discharge of the lake is the Shire River, which flows out of the lake in the south and flows to the Zambezi. Despite the large volume of the lake, the volume of its runoff is small: of the approximately 63 km³ of water supplied to the lake annually, only 16% flows through the Shire River, the rest evaporates from the surface. Because of this, the lake has a very long water renewal period: it is estimated that all the water in the lake is renewed within 114 years. Another consequence of the fact that the main water losses are due to evaporation, and not runoff, is the increased mineralization of lake water compared to the waters of the rivers flowing into it - the water in the lake is hard and brackish. Lake water is vertically distributed into three layers, which differ in the density of water, due to its temperature. The thickness of the upper layer of warm water (epilimnion) varies from 40 to 100 m, reaching a maximum in the cool windy season (from May to September). It is in this layer that algae grow, which are the basic element of the entire food pyramid of the lake. The middle layer, the metalimnion, is several degrees colder than the upper and extends from its lower edge 220 m inward. In the thickness of this layer, there are vertical movements of biological substances and oxygen dissolved in water. The space from the lower level of the metalimnon to the bottom of the lake is occupied by the hypolimnon. The water here is even colder (it has the highest density) and has a high concentration of dissolved nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon - the decomposition products of organic substances. This area is almost completely free of dissolved oxygen, and therefore, deeper than 220 m, the lake is practically devoid of life.

Although these layers of water are never fully mixed, a slow exchange of water between adjacent layers still occurs. The volume and speed of this exchange depends on the place and time of the year. The greatest influx of nutrient-rich water from metalimnon and hypolimnon to the surface occurs during the cool wind season from May to September, when the western wind, which locals call mwera, blows continuously. This wind excites the surface of the lake, sometimes causing strong storms, and mixes the water to a considerable depth. In addition to simple mixing, in some places of the lake, during this time of the year, there is a constant outflow of deep water to the surface, the so-called upwelling. Due to the peculiarities of the bottom morphology, the upwelling is especially powerful in the southeastern bay of the lake. As a result, during the wind season and for a short time after its end, the highest concentration of plankton is observed here.

Rice.

Tanganyika is a large lake in Central Africa of tectonic origin. The second deepest (1435 m) lake in the world after Lake Baikal (1620 m) and the largest in the world in length (650 km). The water level in the lake depends on the amount of rain that feeds the rivers flowing into the lake. Stock lake, flow occurs through the Lukuga river in the Congo city. The water temperature in the upper layer fluctuates throughout the year from +23 to +270 C, and at a depth below 400 m it does not change and is +230 C. Lake Tanganyika is distinguished by the uniqueness of the organic world. The lake is exceptionally rich in fish: there are about 250 species of fish in total, and some of them are endemic. On the shores of the lake there is a national park, which is home to lions, leopards, hippos, buffaloes, antelopes, zebras, chimpanzees and other animals. The shores of the lake belong to four countries - the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Burundi. Lake Tanganyika is located in the deepest tectonic depression of Africa, at an altitude of 773 meters above sea level and is part of the ancient East African rift system. The lake is divided by an underwater rapids into two deep-water basins. The lake is included in the basin of the Congo River, one of the largest rivers in the world. The lake was discovered in 1858 by English travelers R. Burton and J. Speke. Coastal landscapes, as a rule, are huge rocks and only on the eastern side of the coast are gentle. On the west coast, the steep sidewalls of the East African Rift Zone that form the coastline reach 2,000 m in height. The coastline is dotted with bays and bays. The largest of these is Burton Bay. The lake is fed by several tributaries, the basin area is 231 thousand km². The largest flowing river is the Ruzizi, the delta of which is located in the northern part of the lake. On the east side, the Malagarasi River flows into the lake. Malagarasi is more ancient in origin than Tanganyika and in the past flowed directly into the Congo River. The only outflowing river - Lukuga (Lukuga) begins in the middle of the western coast and flows westward, joining the Zaire River, which flows into the Atlantic. The annual inflow of water into the lake is 64.8 km³, of which 40.9 km³ falls on precipitation (63%) and 23.9 km³ - on tributaries (37%). A significant share of water consumption is evaporation - 61.2 km³ (94.4%), the volume of flow through the Lukuga is estimated at 3.6 km³ (5.6%). Average surface temperature 25 ° C, average pH 8.4. The considerable depth of the lake and its location in the tropical zone create conditions under which there is no water circulation in the reservoir, that is, the lake is a meromictic reservoir in which the lower layer of water does not mix with the upper layers. In terms of the volume of anoxic waters, Tanganyika ranks second after the Black Sea. It is also likely that at different historical times, Tanganyika could have different from modern tributaries and sources. The waters of Lake Rukwa could flow into it, and it could flow into Lake Malawi and the Nile. Due to the lack of incoming water, there are concerns that any increase in temperature and evaporation due to climate change could lead to an extremely rapid drop in the lake's water level.

The lake is divided into three volumetric pools: the Kigoma basin in the northern part with a maximum depth of 1310 meters, the Kungwe basin in the middle with a maximum depth of 885 meters and the Kipili basin in the southern part with a maximum depth of 1410 meters.

Rice.

Lake Kivu (area - 2.7 thousand km2, maximum depth - about 500 m) lies north of Lake Tanganyika in the depression of the same western branch of the East African rifts, in which Lake Tanganyika lies. The lake basin is dammed by lava flows, therefore the origin of the lake is volcanic-tectonic or zagatno-volcanic. There are active volcanoes on the northern coast of Lake Kivu. During their eruption, powerful lava flows slide into the lake and the water in the lake boils in these places. Unlike other rift lakes with predominantly straight shores, Kivu has very winding shores with many picturesque bays and islands. The lake is freshwater, stock, the Ruzizi River flows out of it, which flows into Lake Tanganyika. It is distinguished by an abnormally high temperature of deep waters (+260 C), explained by the influence of volcanic activity and the presence of hot springs at the bottom of the lake, and the accumulation of natural combustible gas - methane in them. Kimwu is a lake in Central Africa, on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the East African Rift Valley, one of the African Great Lakes.

Rice.

Lake Kivu flows through the Ruzizi River, which flows in a southerly direction and flows into Lake Tanganyika.

Scientists studying a complex mixture of chemicals that lie at the bottom of Lake Kivu cannot give a definite answer - whether the reservoir will remain unchanged for another millennium or the gases accumulated under the water will soon burst to the surface. Over the last millennium, the concentration of carbon dioxide and methane in the freshwater waters of Lake Kivu has been constantly increasing. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the region in which the lake is located is seismically dangerous and volcanic activity continues here. Lake Kivu differs in many respects from other reservoirs of both temperate and tropical climates. Its most important feature can be considered the absence of evaporation at the border of water and air.

Due to the high temperature and humidity of the atmosphere above the lake, a kind of stable "cushion" of hot water vapor forms between the water and air, which stops the circulation of water molecules. As a result, the liquid in the lake does not circulate, and the gas accumulating at the bottom does not dissolve.

Lake Kivu is naturally nourished by warm underwater springs that break through to the surface through a layer of solidified volcanic lava and sedimentary ash.

From time to time, the temperature of these springs changes under the influence of volcanic activity and climatic fluctuations, but this does not affect the overall picture. Under conditions of such stability, gas accumulating under water is deposited in the form of a compressed interlayer.

The pressure holding it is also maintained at the same level, but any imbalance will lead to an explosion of the accumulated mixture of methane and carbon dioxide.

Lake Edward (Idi-Amin-Dada) lies north of Lake Kivu. Named after the son of Queen Victoria of England. The area of ​​the lake is 2.15 thousand km2, the greatest depth is 111 meters, the average depth is 17 meters. The lake is located in Central Africa, on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a few kilometers south of the equator. The smallest of the Great Lakes in Africa. Named after Edward VII, the eldest son of Queen Victoria, after whom, in turn, another great lake in Africa is named - Victoria. The name of the lake was given by Henry Morton Stanley, who visited the lake in 1888. Later the lake was renamed Idi-Amin-Dada in honor of the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, but today the lake bears its former name again.

The rivers Niamugasani, Ishash, Rutsuru and Rwindi flow into Lake Edward. The water from the lake flows in the north through the Semliki River into Lake Albert. Lake Edward is also connected by the Kazinga Canal to Lake George in the northeast. The lake is located at an altitude of 920 m, it is 77 km long and 40 - wide, the surface area of ​​the lake is 2325 km² (15th largest on the continent). The west coast is high and steep, the other shores are flat, swampy, covered with reeds and papyrus. The color of the water in the lake is light green aquamarine, which is associated with a large amount of phytoplankton. The lake is famous for the abundance of birds living on its shores (pelicans, cormorants, gulls, herons, ibises and many others). Herds of antelopes and buffaloes gather at the watering hole, followed by lions, leopards and hyenas. Almost the entire area around the lake has been declared a nature reserve.

Rice.

Further north is Lake Albert (Mobutu-Sese-Seko). Named after the husband of the Queen of England. Discovered in 1864 by the English traveler S.U. Baker. The area of ​​the lake is 5.6 thousand km2, the maximum depth is 58 m. It is a tectonic depression in the northern section of the Western Rift, which, in turn, is part of the Great African Rift. The lake is the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Albert is famous for the richness and diversity of fish stocks, and its shores - for many species of land African fauna. The Semliki (Lake Edward) and Victoria Nile (Lake Victoria) rivers flow into the lake, and the Albert Nile River, one of the sources of the Nile, flows into the lake. The average annual water inflow into the lake due to precipitation is 4.6 cubic meters. km, due to the runoff from the pool of 24.9 cubic meters. km, evaporation is 7.5 cubic meters. km, runoff 22 cubic meters. km, surface water temperature up to 30 ° C. Rich in fish (over 40 species: Nile perch, tiger fish, etc.). Shipping. The main ports are Butiaba in Uganda and Kasenyi in Congo. Lake Albert is located in the Albertin Rift Valley and is part of a complex system of water bodies in the upper Nile. The main rivers flowing into the lake are the Victoria Nile of the White Nile system, which flows from Lake Victoria to the southeast through Lake Kyoga, and the Semliki River, which flows from Lake Edward, which lies to the southwest. Victoria Nile water contains much less salt than Lake Albert water. The river flowing out of Albert in the northernmost part of the lake is called the Albert Nile, which flows further north into the White Nile.

The southern part of the lake, at the confluence of the Semliki River, is swampy. Further to the south, the Rwenzori Range stretches, and the Blue Mountains rise above the northwest coast. Several villages are located on the shore of the lake, including the harbors of Butiaba and Kasenyi.

Lake Albert has a shape close to an elongated rhombus, reproducing the outlines of the tectonic depression in the northern section of the Western Rift, which is part of the Great African Rift. In the system of geographic coordinates, the lake is oriented from southwest to northeast. Close to this axis, conventionally cutting the surface of the lake into two practically equal parts, runs the state border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the west and Uganda in the east. The bottom of the lake, as in most similar depressions, is flat and fairly even. The western edge of the rift in this region reaches 1900-2400 m above sea level. m., or 1300-1800 m above the lake. Eastern edge 1200-1400 m above sea level m., or about 600-800 m above the lake.


Rice.

Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world after Lake Superior in North America (68 thousand km2). Discovered in 1858 by the English traveler D. Spick. Named after Queen Victoria of England. It is located in a huge shallow trough (trough is an oval-shaped trough of tectonic origin on the Earth's surface), has relatively insignificant depths for tectonic lakes (up to 80 m) and low-lying shores. The upper layer of water in the lake has a temperature of +23 ... +260 C. Numerous islands are scattered across the lake, the total area of ​​which is 6 thousand km2. Many rivers flow into the lake, including the Kagera - a loop of the Nile; only one river flows out - the Victoria Nile. The shores of the lake are strongly dissected by bays, bays and peninsulas. Crocodiles and hippos, numerous water birds are found in bays and estuaries. The lake is rich in fish: there are more than 100 species of fish in total. One of them - protopterus - is interesting in that it is lung-breathing and has gills and lungs. During the dry season, this fish burrows into silt and breathes through the gills. The lake feeds mainly on precipitation, of which it receives almost 80% of the total inflow. In addition, numerous rivers, tributaries and streams flow into it. The average inflow of water is 114 km3 regardless of the source. About 16 km3 comes from the tributaries, and 98 km3 from precipitation. Annual evaporation from the surface reaches 93 km3. It is believed that over all the years of observations, the amount of water evaporating per year remains practically unchanged. The average amplitude of the lake level fluctuations is 0.3 m, and the maximum annual amplitude of the 45-year observation is 1.74 m. The lake level largely depends on the amount of rain. In recent years, they have decreased, which is explained, in addition to the general warming of the Earth's climate, also by the destruction of the forests of Africa, and the area around the lake. In 2010, the level of the lake reached its lowest mark in 80 years, it is lower by almost one meter compared to 1990. Measurements of the lake's water level have been carried out since 1896. Uplands, its level was noted in 1906 and 1917, but it remains relatively stable until 1961 of the year.

Rice.

Rice.

The relict lakes of Africa are Chad, Tumba, Mai-Ndombe, Ngami. The largest of the relict lakes of the mainland is the freshwater (according to some sources brackish) closed-drainage Lake Chad, located at the southern border of the Sahara Desert in a huge flat basin of the same name. The name of the lake is translated from the language of the local population as "a large expanse of water". The area of ​​the lake varies from 12 thousand km2 in June-July to 26 thousand km2 in November-December, depending on the amount of precipitation and the high flow of the rivers flowing in (the main river Shari). Modern Lake Chad is the remains of a huge reservoir with an area of ​​300-400 thousand km2, which existed in the Pleistocene (for comparison: the area of ​​the Black Sea is 420 thousand km2). The depths of the lake are negligible (4-11 m). The uniqueness of the lake lies in the fact that the upper layers of the lake are fresh, and the lower ones are salty. This is explained by the fact that salt water is heavy for fresh and sinks down. In addition, Chad has an underground runoff along the dry channel of the Bahr el-Ghazal into the Bodele basin, so its waters become saline. In 2006, a lake with an area of ​​23 thousand km², located on the borders of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and the Republic of Chad, decreased 26 times and continues to dry up, which became known thanks to the Earth monitoring carried out by the international system "Disaster Monitoring Constellation".

The drying up of Lake Chad was also reported by NASA employees who compared space images from 2001 with images taken 38 years ago.

Chad is known to dry up for the seventh time in the last millennium. Paleontologists have established this from the remains of animals found there.

Satellite images taken by the first Nigerian satellite, Nigeria Sat-1, are part of the Story of a Dying Lake exhibition held in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.

Projects are being developed to transfer part of the flow from the Congo basin (in particular, Ubangi), from 15 to 100 km3 per year.

Rice.

The relict lakes Tumba and Mai-Ndombe (Leopolda II) lie in the Congo Basin, Lake Ngami in the Kalahari Basin. The area of ​​Lake Mai-Ndombe (Leopolda II) is 2.3 thousand km2, during the rains - up to 8.2 thousand km2. The average depth of the lake ranges from 2.5 to 5 m. The shores are low, swampy. Freshwater lake in the western part of the Congo Basin, in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The length is about 130 kilometers. Located in a marshy lowland. Area - 2300 sq. km. In the north, the Lotoi River flows into the lake. Like other lakes in the Congo Basin, Mai Ndombe is the remnant of a giant drainless lake that was formed about 1 million years ago. The Lukeni and Kassai rivers flow out of Lake Mai-Ndombe and then flow into the Congo.

In the deserts and semi-deserts of South Africa, peculiar dry lakes of relic origin, called peni, are common. They are numerous in the sandy Kalahari Desert, where there are about 1000 of them. The bottom of the foams is covered with grassy vegetation or is exposed and composed of lacustrine deposits 2-3 m thick. The foams are rarely filled with water, only during heavy rains. The largest of the penins, Etosha, is located in the northwest of the Kalahari Desert and is a flat clay basin. During the rainy season, the Etosha basin becomes a large shallow lake, and after the rains stop, it quickly turns into a swamp.

lake africa geographic

Rice.

The largest of the volcanic lakes on the mainland is Lake Tana dammed by lava flows in the Ethiopian Highlands. The area of ​​the lake ranges from 3.1 to 3.6 thousand km2. There are many islands in the water area of ​​the lake. Many rivers flow into the lake, one flows out - the Blue Nile. The lake is rich in fish. Height above sea level is 1830 meters. The lake is fed by four permanent rivers and numerous seasonal tributaries. The average depth is 8 meters, but during dry and wet seasons it differs by almost two meters. Depending on the season, the surface area of ​​the lake varies from 3000 to 3500 square kilometers.

Fish is abundant in Lake Tana. More than 10,000 tons of fish are caught during the year. The variety of birds is also great, they live both in coastal areas and on islands.

On the vast, arid continent of Africa, rivers represent life and prosperity. The life-giving power of waterways 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 the internal drain.

Watercourses of the Atlantic water area occupy half of the land in Africa. 30% of the territory falls on the reservoirs of internal flow. The Indian Ocean receives streams from a fifth of the mainland.

The characteristic of the current intensity is due to the undeveloped river channels. The upper reaches are marked by stormy, rushing streams. In the lower reaches there are rapids with waterfalls. Among them, the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi gained worldwide fame. The stepping of the surface affects the limitation of navigation along the entire length of the watercourses. It is carried out only in certain areas. However, this deficiency is being made up for by the development of hydropower, which makes up 20% of Africa's energy resources.

The state of the water area is influenced by climatic zones. Most reservoirs are filled with rain. Reserves from precipitation are available to a few reservoirs in the highlands. The equator is full of water throughout the year.

Another characteristic of water content in the subequatorial belt, where shallow water begins. In the tropics, river reserves are scarce. Moisture gets into dry channels sporadically. The African platform, with its slope, affects the geography of the 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. On its way, the Nile is subject to a variety of weather and relief conditions. The river is recognized as the longest not only in Africa. On a planetary scale, it is the second after the Amazon.

Watercourse characteristics:

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

The Nile remains a mystery of geography to this day. Scientists cannot come to a consensus regarding the origin of the natural miracle. The ancient thinker Herodotus wrote that the Nile begins in southern Africa. The version of Ptolemy Claudius argued that the beginning is the Rwenzori ridge (in ancient times, the Mountains of the Moon). 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 bed changes its temper - calm and rapids, deep and shallow.

The current rushes to the north, rushing from above into the lowlands. Falls down in the strongest waterfalls. From a height of 40 meters, the Murchison Cascade flows into Lake Albert, from which the Albert Nile is born. The plain of Uganda soothes the swirling stream. The Nile reaches South Sudan, where it is dissected 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 him not the White, 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 along the Egyptian expanses to the Suez Canal, where it flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The end of the path is characterized by creeping into separate branches, the formation of a huge estuary.

Congo

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

Streams flow down from the 1580 m highlands of Zambia called Chambesi. Along the course of the course, it leaves behind cascades and stormy streams of the Central African territory. It reaches the shores of the Atlantic in a 12-kilometer deep channel.

Watercourse characteristics:

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

The African River has many different tributaries.

Navigation is developed in many areas. Africans extract oil, clay, sand. The main source of food remains river wealth - fish, 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 irreplaceable source of life-giving moisture in West Africa.

Watercourse characteristics:

  • length - 4155 kilometers;
  • volume - 2096;
  • annual flow - 270 km3

From mountain peaks 850 m, the watercourse moves north along the Malian plain, where it sharply changes direction to the south. It flows through the territory of Nigeria, Benin to the Gulf of Guinea - the mouth of the Niger. An intricate winding river path at all times instilled mystical moods in the aborigines. Local residents consider the source to be sacred, believe in ancient spirits and protect it from foreigners.

There is a vast delta at the mouth. The unique reservoir has an internal mouth called Masina. The swampy valley is flooded with rivers and lake floods for a length of 427 km.

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

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

Rivers of Africa on the Map

The water system of the continent is made up of lakes and rivers of Africa, marked on the map. The hydraulic system of antiquity has been modified for centuries, thanks to large bodies of water on the site of the present 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, modern maps of water areas, deserts and savannas are being drawn up.

Major African rivers

Noting the largest rivers in Africa, one should characterize the fourth longest - Zamzebi, stretching for 2570 km. The Zambezi, overcoming the Angolan savannah, enters Mozambique. The long African river ends its journey in the waves of the Indian Ocean.

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

What is the most famous river in Africa in Russia? The river glorified by the writer Kornei Chukovsky is known to everyone as Limpopo. Along the entire 1590 km waterway, it feeds on numerous small and medium watercourses. It flows into the Indian Ocean.

Senegal is a large river in West Africa that creates a natural border between states. The filling capacity of the reservoir is more than 400 thousand km2.

List of important river arteries of Africa

  1. Atraba - plays the role of a right-hand tributary of the Nile at a distance of 1130 km. It is a geographical landmark of the Ethiopian and Sudanese settlements. In the dry season, the lower reaches dry up, in the monsoon season it fills and reaches the Nile.
  2. Juba is a watercourse of Ethiopian and Somali lands with a pool of 748 thousand sq. M. km. The deep river in Africa is of great economic importance due to navigation.
  3. Lualaba is the name of the upper reaches of the Congo, the length of which is 2100 km from the source to the Boyoma cascades.

Conclusion

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, contribute to the development of animal husbandry and agriculture.

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

Lake Bangweulu, in Zambia, in the upper reaches of the Luapula River (system of the Congo River), it is located at an altitude of 1067 m. The area is from 4 thousand km² (in the dry season) to 15 thousand km² (during summer rains). The depth is up to 5 m. The banks are swampy, thickets of reeds and sedges.

Lake Bangweulu

Lake Kivu, on the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, is located at an altitude of 1460 m in a basin of tectonic origin. The area is 2.7 thousand km². Depth up to 496 m. There are many islands. In the northern part of the Kivu, underwater eruptions are observed. Runoff along the Ruzizi River into Lake Tanganyika. There is shipping. The main ports are Bukavu, Goma, Kibue.


Lake Kivu

Lake Mai-Ndombe, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the Congo Basin. Area 2325 km² (during the rainy season 8200 km²). Depth 2.5-7 m. Runoff in the Fimi river, tributary - the Kasai river. There is shipping and fishing.


Lake Mai-Ndombe

Lake Mveru, in the Congo River system (Zaire), is located in a tectonic depression on the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. The area is 5.2 thousand km². Depth up to 15 m. There is fishing. The lake is navigable.


Lake Mveru

Lake Nyasa, in Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. Located in a tectonic depression. Area 30.8 thousand km², depth up to 706 m. Runoff along the Shire River into the Zambezi River. There is fishing. Shipping.


Lake Nyasa

Lake Tana(Tsana, Dembea), in Ethiopia, is located at an altitude of 1830 m. The area is 3100-3600 km². Depth up to 70 m. There are many islands. A number of rivers flow into the river, the Abbay river flows out. There is fishing.


Lake Tana

Lake Tanganyika, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Burundi. It is located in a tectonic depression at an altitude of 773 m. The area is 34 thousand km², depth is up to 1470 m (the second deepest after Lake Baikal). Runoff along the Lukuga River into the Lualaba River. There is fishing and shipping. Main ports: Kigoma, Bujumbura, Kalima.


Lake Tanganyika

Lake Chad, an internal drainage slightly saline lake in the territory of Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon. The area is from 10 to 26 thousand km² (in the wet season), the depth is 4-11 m. The rivers Shari and Komadugu-Yobe flow into the river. There is fishing.


Lake Chad

Lakes in Africa. Eastern.

Lake Victoria, in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Located in the tectonic trough of the East African Platform, at an altitude of 1134 m, it is the second largest freshwater lake in the world. Area 68 thousand km², length 320 km, maximum width 275 km, depth 80 m. It is part of the Victoria reservoir. There are many islands. Discovered in 1858 by the English traveler J. Speke. Named after the Queen of Great Britain.


Lake Victoria

Lake Kyoga, in Uganda, area 2.6 thousand km², depth 3-5 m. Reed and papyrus thickets. The Victoria Nile River flows through Kyoga.


Lake Kyoga

Lake Rudolph, a drainless brackish lake in Kenya. It is located in a tectonic depression at an altitude of 375 m. The lake is 265 km long, up to 50 km wide, and an area of ​​8.5 thousand km². Average depth 73 m.Maximum - 120 m.


Lake Rudolph

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

The lake is a potential hazard as it contains methane deposits. Despite this, the shores are densely populated. People catch telapia, sardine, carp and catfish in it. The national parks of Niungwe Forest, Kahuzi-Biega and Virunga are home to chimpanzees, antelopes, elephants, buffaloes and giraffes. On the banks overgrown with bamboo and papyrus, pelicans, ibises and gulls nest. The lake is shared by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.

general information

Rivers are unevenly distributed on the mainland. A characteristic feature of the rivers in Africa is the presence of rapids and waterfalls. That is why these bodies of water are practically unsuitable for navigation. The high flow of rivers also depends on the climatic zones in which they are located. In the equatorial climatic zone, rivers are full-flowing 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 - 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 the flowing 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 decrease in water level, the shores of the lake become swampy, becoming home to aquatic birds such as ducks, geese and pelicans. Locals earn their living by catching fish, which is found in abundance here. The lake is located in Ethiopia.

Congo

The Congo River ranks second in terms of 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 the Congo.

The Congo is the deepest river in the world (230 m) and the deepest river in Africa. In the world in terms of abundance, it occupies an honorable second place after the Amazon. The length of the river is 4700 km, and the Portuguese traveler Diogo Can became the discoverer of these waters.

Rice. 2. The Congo River.

Bangweulu

The surface area of ​​the permanently exposed water is about 3000 km², and expands significantly when marshes 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

This river flows through the territory of West Africa. in terms of length and area of ​​the basin, it ranks third after the Nile and Congo. The 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 to the murky waters of the Nile, the Niger is considered a river with fairly clear water, since it flows mainly through rocky terrain and does not carry a lot of silt. Niger lies in the equatorial and subequatorial zones, which are characterized by dry semi-desert areas and the presence of monsoons.

Mweru

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

Lake map

There are 14 lakes on the African continent, seven of which belong to the Great African Lakes. These include Victoria, Albert and Edward, which flow into the White Nile, Taganyika and Kiva, which flow into the Congo. Lake Nyasa flows into the Zambezi, while Lake Rudolph is closed.

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

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

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 large rivers are the Congo, Niger, 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. The total area is 32.9 thousand square meters. km, the coastline stretches for 1830 km. The coast in many places is 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 numerous 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.

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

The annual inflow 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 especially hot days it warms up to 30 ° C, while the temperature at the depth does not exceed 6-8 ° C.

The largest lake in Africa is Victoria, located in the eastern part. The lake ranks 2nd in terms of area among the 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. Navigation and fishing are well developed on the territory of the lake.

Albert

The lake area 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. Alberta's water remains warm throughout the year. Due to this, the fish fauna is well developed here.

Part of the coastline is represented by cliffs and ledges, from which hot springs flow. The plains are covered with savannas. In some places, the shores turn into wetlands, a favorite habitat for 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, the 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 exclusively engaged in fishing.

Chad

Historically, Lake Chad has been one of the largest lakes in Africa, although its surface area varies greatly from season to season and from year to year. Previously, the area of ​​the lake reached about 17800 km², however, at the beginning of the 21st century, it decreased to about 1500 km². The average depth of the lake is 1.5 meters, the maximum depth is 11 meters.

Lake Chad was formed due to a deflection in the earth's crust. The coastal line is swampy. There are many islands in the northeastern part. The northern border is represented by dunes. Tropical plants grow in the south. There are many algae in the waters of Lake Chad, 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
Big 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
Raindier lake
Issyk-Kul 179 6200 2038
Urmia 14 5901
Venern 107 5445 149
Winnipegosis 260 5503
Albert 59 5309 279
Mweru 30 5130 40
Netting 5049

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


 The largest lakes in the world: what are they, where are they and what makes them unique?

The largest lake in Russia is the Caspian Sea, which is also called the "Caspian Sea". The lake has no connection with the oceans, and therefore is closed.

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

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

The greatest depth of the lake - 229 m is achieved in the northern part of the reservoir. For 160 years, construction and decorative stone has been actively mined in the northern part of the coastal shores. More than 650 islands are located 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. Local residents call Tonle Sap "Kamboydzhiyskiy Baikal". Fishing is well developed on the territory of the lake, since more than 3 hundred species of fish live in its waters.

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

Freshwater Lake Superior is considered the largest body of water in North America. In the southern part of the coastal surroundings, flat relief prevails, in the northern part, mainly rocky shores. During warmer months, the sandy shores of the lake serve as a resting place for local residents.

The water temperature in the depth is constant at 4 degrees. There are many islands on the surface of the lake; the largest of them is 72 km long. The lake attracts visitors with a variety of the surrounding landscape, so thousands of tourists come to the lake every year.

Maracaibo is considered the largest lake in South America. Coastal areas are home to more than 20% of the total population of South America. Sometimes the lake is called a strait, since it is connected by a strait with a gulf of the Caribbean Sea.

The length of the reservoir is 160 km from north to south. The deepest places are located on the southern side of the lake. The reservoir is about 30 million years old. The reservoir is of tectonic origin.

Lake Eyre is the largest closed lake in Australia. The reservoir got its name in honor of its discoverer by the name of 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 the sea water.

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

Article design: Oleg Lozinsky

Nyasa

The area of ​​Nyans is 29604 km². The maximum length of the lake is 560 km, the width is 75 km. Average depth - 292 meters, maximum depth - 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 striking in its variety. There are rocky shores, bays, sandbanks and river deltas.

There are 1000 species of fish in the lake, many of which live at great depths. The abundance of fish fauna attracts birds such as eagles, herons and cormorants. Large animals are represented mainly by hippos and crocodiles. Lake Nyansa is located in the following African countries: Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Tanganyika

The area of ​​the lake is 32,900 km². The maximum length of the lake is 673 km, width - 72 km. The average depth is 570 meters, the maximum depth is 1470 meters. The reservoir is located in a tectonic depression. For 10 million years of its existence, the lake has never dried up, so there is a unique underwater world here.

The coastline has a rocky landscape. In the east, it is represented by a gentle stripe. Tanganyika is associated with molluscs, crustaceans, amphibians and water birds. Millions of people live on the shores of the lake, so navigation is developed on it. Tanganyika is located in Tanzania, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the 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, the width is 250 km. Average depth - 40 meters, maximum depth - 83 meters. The coastline is low and gentle. 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. The nature reserve on the island of Rubondo is a gem for tourists. Major threats to Lake Victoria include deforestation, water pollution, and overgrowth of water lilies. The lake is found in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.