Introduction
Lake Victoria, situated in east Africa, is the largest of the African Great Lakes. It has a total surface area of over 27 000 km2 and stands at 68 meters above sea level. With an average depth of 27 metres, Lake Victoria has an enormous volume of more than 2 460 cubic kilometres. It is also one of the deepest lakes on Earth, measuring as deep as 71 meters in some places. The lake also sustains a rich and diverse ecosystem, hosting about 30 species of freshwater fish, unique bird species and over a million people living along its shorelines.
Geology
The lake is in many ways, a gift from the great rift valley which extends from the Venezuelan coast to Mozambique. Although the Depression, which holds Lake Victoria, is shallower than other parts of the rift valley stretching to the east, it is fed by local surface streams and flows, boasting a volume of water that nobody can neglect.
The lake extends in an almost symmetrical shape, with longshore troughs grooving the shorelines. Its coastline is over 4000km long, and the contour line varies significantly, implying that the lake has different depths in different places.
Deepest Point
The deepest point of the lake is found in the northern region, at a depth of 320m. It lies near the border of Kenya and Tanzania. Further studies conducted by the Great Rift Valley Commission, revealed that the lake reaches depths of almost three hundred and fifty meters in certain areas, making it one of the deepest lakes in the world.
Biodiversity and Human Activity
Along with its best-known species-the Nile perch-Lake Victoria also houses a variety of other freshwater species, such as tilapia, Mboupouni and lungfish. Moreover, the lake serves as a seasonal home for more than a million people who inhabit its shorelines. This is estimated to be more than double the number of people that lived along its shores in the early twentieth century.
The lake also has a rich cultural heritage.Tribes such as the Langi,Kanuri,and Acholi have passed down a unique history for generations along the shoreline until today. However, the rapidly increasing human population has also raised concerns about the sustainability of the lake’s ecosystem, resulting in the intensification of protection and management programmes.
Pollution
Despite the efforts to sustainable management of the lake, human impacts continue to pose a major threat to Lake Victoria’s biodiversity. Constant overfishing, land-based activities and water pollution are significant causes of the endemic species’ decrease and have severe consequences on the entire lake state. The presence of foreign bodies and metal ions, heavy metal concentrations, water depletion, algae blooms and wastewater discharges are now commonly observed in Lake Victoria.
The organic pollution of the lake is most likely attributed to human activities such as farming practices, sewer effluents, industrial activities, and water runoff from urban centers, runoffs from industrial processing zones, and a number of discarded plastics.
Environmental Conservation
Since the 20th century, the Global Lake Victoria Basin Initiative (AWI) seeks to protect, develop and manage Lake Victoria and its environment in one of the largest lake conservation programmes ever launched. It is a major transboundary effort to find ways of maintaining the lake’s resources and habitats for ecosystems services, food security and socio-economic benefits for more than 30 million people living in the catchment area.
In order to effectively manage and protect the lake, collaborations have been established with communities along its shorelines, national governments, and local organizations in a joint effort to protect the lake’s inhabitants. Over the years, the scale of the conservation initiatives has increased with more than 39 actions being taken since 1990, incorporating collaborative efforts at all levels.
Conclusion
Lake Victoria is an invaluable source of life and home to many people, flora and fauna. For that reason, its protection and conservation has become a priority. Its importance in the economic and social life of the region is undeniable and its continued preservation is the responsibility of all who live near and rely on this ancient lake.
