Lake Victoria is a freshwater body located in the heart of East Africa, occupying a shallow depression between the continent’s Eastern and Western Rift Valleys. It is the largest tropical lake in the world and one of the African Great Lakes. Its waters sustain millions of people and are a defining feature of the region’s geography.
Geographical Placement and Borders
The lake is situated in East-Central Africa, with its center point lying approximately at 1 degree South latitude and 33 degrees East longitude, placing it almost directly on the equator. Lake Victoria’s vast surface area is shared by three sovereign nations: Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.
Tanzania controls the largest share, possessing about 49% of the total surface area, primarily along the southern and eastern shores. Uganda holds the second-largest portion, with approximately 45% of the water territory along the northern and western margins. Kenya occupies the smallest segment, accounting for roughly 6% of the lake’s area in the northeastern sector.
Physical Characteristics and Scale
Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake by surface area, covering approximately 68,800 square kilometers. This makes it the second-largest freshwater lake in the world by area, surpassed only by Lake Superior in North America. The lake sits at an elevation of about 1,134 meters (3,720 feet) above sea level.
The lake is relatively shallow for its size, occupying a broad, gentle basin rather than a deep rift valley trench. The average depth is only about 40 meters (130 feet), while its maximum known depth reaches approximately 80 to 84 meters (262 to 276 feet). This low volume, compared to its wide area, makes the lake’s water levels highly responsive to environmental changes.
Hydrological Significance
Lake Victoria functions as the primary reservoir for the longest branch of the Nile River system. The lake’s outflow occurs at its northern shore in Uganda, near the city of Jinja, giving rise to the Victoria Nile. This river flows northward and is the initial stage of the White Nile, which travels through several countries downstream.
The lake receives water primarily from direct rainfall onto its surface, accounting for around 80% of its input. The remaining water flows in from numerous rivers and streams, with the Kagera River being the largest inflowing tributary on the western side. The lake’s contribution to the Nile River system is important for the water security of nations like Sudan and Egypt.