LAKE VICTORIA IN UGANDA  

Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa which was formerly known as Nalubaale and it is the origin of River Nile. The largest part of the lake lies in Tanzania and Uganda and the smallest part borders Kenya. The explorers from the Great Britain on their search for the source of the River Nile led to the sighting of the lake by the British explorer John Hanning Speke in 1858, the lake was named by Speke in honor of the Queen Victoria of England. A detailed survey of the lake was made by Sir William Gastin in 1901

Geographically, Lake Victoria is relatively young at about 400,000 years old.it was formed by down warping of land between the two arms of the Great Rift Valley; the Westward flowing Rivers were dammed by an up thrown crustal block, reversing their flow into the down warped land.

Lake Victoria waters fill a shadow depression in the center of the great   plateau that stretches between the western and Eastern Rift Valley. It receives 80 percent of its water from direct rainfall; additionally it receives its water from rivers and thousands of small streams.

Many rivers are associated   with Lake Victoria; River Kagera is the largest river glowing into this lake, with its mouth on the lake’s western shore. River Katonga, Sio, Yala, Nyando, Sondu Miriu and Mara also feed the lake with water. The only outflow from Lake Victoria is the River Nile which exists the lake in Jinja Uganda. In terms of contributed water to the lake, this makes Lake Victoria the main source of the Nile River.

Quite a number of archipelagos are found within the lake, an archipelago is an area that contains a chain or group of islands scattered in lakes, rivers or oceans.

Lake Victoria has over 150 species of fish of which Nile perch and Tilapia are the most economically important. The other species in Lake Victoria include the following which are also listed both in English and the native language.

English                             Luganda

Tilapia                                Engege

Nile perch                         Emputa

Cat fish                             Semutundu

Silver fish                          Mukene

Lung fish                           Emamba

Mud fish                           Emalle

Sprat fish                          Enkejje

Lake Victoria has tourists, visitors and residents catered for and sorted because of the many tourists’ attractions. Resort beaches and activities to do on the lake include; Boat cruises on the lake, visiting the zoo, Shoebill Stork Safari on the Mabamba bay wetlands, the beaches on the lake, exploring the lake victoria islands like Ssese island, Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary; a sanctuary is a protection or safe place especially for someone or something being chased or hunted. The trip to the equator crossing a point on the lake, Entebbe botanical gardens and beach hotels. Come have an adventure with us!