Geographic Location of Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa – and the largest tropical lake in the world – stretching 80,000 km2 and located in the great African Rift Valley. It is bordered by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The lake is named after the British Monarch, Queen Victoria. It is part of the Nile Basin and is fed by five major rivers; the Rwenzori, Luamia, Sio, Simiyu, and Kagera and many minor rivers, streams and small creeks.
Kenya
Lake Victoria forms a large portion of the Kenyan-Ugandan border and most of the northern shores of the lake are part of Kenya. Kisumu is the largest port city on the Kenyan side located around 100 kilometers north of the Uganda. Major cities located along the Kenyan side of the shore include Homa Bay, Nadowli and Migori. The Nyanza region along the shore covers most of the Kenyan portion of Lake Victoria. It is home to the Luo people and is one of the most populated areas in Kenya.
Tanzania
Tanzania has the smallest portion of Lake Victoria out of the three countries bordering it. It comprises the southeastern area of Lake Victoria—with the city of Musoma as the main town on its shores with other smaller settlements like Nyimba and Mwanza. The lake provides fishing and boat movement to and from Tanzania.
Uganda
Uganda forms the largest portion of Lake Victoria – it covers almost 70 percent of the lake’s shoreline. The major port city on the Ugandan side is Port Bell, located close to Entebbe. Other important cities on the Ugandan side are Masaka, Ssentongo, Kalangalala and Mbale. Major towns located on the shoreline of Uganda include Jinja, the former capital city of Uganda. Fishing plays a fundamental role in providing livelihoods to the people living on the banks of Lake Victoria in Uganda.
Economic Benefits of Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is a major source of fishing for communities living both near and around it. Many of the nations rely on it for their food source, income, and employment opportunities. Aquaculture farming is also a major source of livelihood on the lake, as is tourism. The lake brings business, employment and revenue opportunities to the three countries. In addition, the lake is a major source of electricity for those living around it, due to the hydroelectric power plants that are found on the shores.
Environmental Concerns of Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria has also been subject to numerous environmental concerns, such as water pollution, hazardous chemicals and soils and nutrients flowing into the lake. These hazards are due to numerous activities, such as sewage and industrial waste discharges, agricultural non-point source pollution, deforestation and urbanization. These activities have degraded the lake and its surrounding environment, leading to environmental damage and the decline of fish populations.
Ecological Role of Lake Victoria
The lake provides numerous ecological functions, including serving as a habitat for several native and endemic fish species. There are over 300 species of fish that live in Lake Victoria, with some, such as the Nile Perch and Tilapia, gaining global recognition in the fishing industry. The lake is an important source of water for the countries surrounding it, as well as for the Nile River basin, which includes countries such as Sudan and Egypt.
Conclusion
Lake Victoria is a vital asset to the countries bordering it and provides them with numerous economic, environmental and ecological benefits. It is a major source of fishing, a source of hydroelectric power, and has numerous ecological goods and services. However, Lake Victoria is also subject to numerous environmental hazards and deterioration, and thus, proper management and conservation is needed to ensure the future of the lake.
