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At over 320 km long, Africa's largest lake spans three countries, supports the world's largest freshwater fishery, is home to crocodiles and hippos and has dried up several times throughout history!
If there's one thing Africa doesn't mess around with, it's its magnificent nature. And when we talk about lakes, one in particular steals the show: Lake Victoria. It's the largest lake in Africa, spread across three countries and is so gigantic that it looks more like an ocean than a lake. And that's not all; it has a history full of discoveries, challenges and even mysteries.
Now, let's dive in (not literally, because there is a crocodile there) in this natural wonder!
An immensity of water in the heart of Africa
When we say Lake Victoria is big, we’re not exaggerating. It covers an incredible 69.000 km² – seriously, it’s almost the size of Ireland! To give you a better idea, it’s the second largest freshwater lake in the world, second only to Lake Superior in North America.
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But there is a curious detail: despite its colossal size, it is quite shallow compared to other famous lakes. Its average depth is 25 meters, with a maximum of 80 meters. This means that it may be immense on the surface, but not that deep.
History and exploration of Lake Victoria
If Lake Victoria is a household name today, it is thanks to a British explorer named John Hanning Speke, who first laid eyes on it in 1858 while searching for the source of the Nile River. He was so excited by the discovery that he decided to name it after Queen Victoria, who ruled the United Kingdom at the time.
Africa's largest lake is not only a natural wonder, but also an essential part of the Nile River water system. The Victoria Nile originates here and continues on its journey to Sudan, bringing life (and some problems too, as we will see later) to millions of people.
And here's a curious detail: despite being around 400.000 years old, it has dried out several times throughout history, the most recent being around 17.000 years ago. And scientists warn that this could happen again in the next 500 years.
Life around the lake
Anyone who thinks that Lake Victoria is just water is mistaken. It has a coastline of over 3.200 km, full of cities and villages that depend on it for their survival. It is home to over 1.000 islands, some of which are inhabited, with very peculiar cultures and ways of life.
And if we talk about life, we cannot fail to mention the lake's most illustrious inhabitants: crocodiles, hippos, clawless otters and countless exotic birds. But the real rulers here are the fish, especially the feared Nile perch, which was artificially introduced and completely disrupted the ecosystem, leading to the extinction of several native species.
And that’s not even the most impressive part! Lake Victoria supports the largest freshwater fishery in the world, with over 1 million tons of fish caught each year. There are over 200.000 fishermen. who depend on it to survive.
Environmental challenges and the future of Lake Victoria
It’s not all crystal clear waters here. Africa’s largest lake faces serious challenges, and if nothing is done, its future could be complicated.
First, there is the problem of pollution. With cities growing around, a lot of garbage and sewage end up directly in the lake. Then comes deforestation, which alters the rain cycle and threatens the natural replenishment of water.
And it doesn't stop there! A small plant called water hyacinth has begun to spread uncontrollably, hindering navigation and suffocating aquatic life.
Another critical problem is the increasing population around the lake. Today, more than 40 million people live in the Lake Victoria basin, and many of them do not have access to clean water. The result? Diseases such as cholera, malaria and schistosomiasis are common in the region.
And of course, there is the biggest specter of all: climate change. Scientists have already warned that if nothing is done, the lake may face a new period of drought in the coming centuries.
You know, if you don't have information about Rio, don't mess with us, damn it... Waste my time reading this endless thing, damn it... Fuck...
The history of the lake is interesting but I would like to know what the name of this lake is that the natives named it after?