Abstract:

Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake (68,800 sq. kilometers; at an elevation of
1133 m asl), the largest tropical lake and the second largest freshwater body
in the world after Lake Superior in North America. The lake receives most
of its water (80%) from direct rainfall and from Rivers Katonga and Kagera
to the west, several small rivers in Kenya (Sio, Nzoia, Yala, Nyando, Sondu
Miriu, Mogusi and Migori) and thousands of small streams. The Victoria
Nile is the sole outflow river leaving the lake at Jinja. The lake occupies a
shallow depression in the east African plateau and has a maximum depth
of 84 metres and mean depth of 40 metres with a catchment area covering
184,000 sq. kilometers and a shore line of 3,440 kilometres. The lake’s area
is shared between Kenya 6%, Uganda 45% and Tanzania 49%). The lake
supports Africa’s largest inland fishery. Due to its shallowness, limited inflow,
large surface area compared to its volume the lake is vulnerable to effects of pollution and climate change