Lake Victoria

Northwestern Tanzania, Tanzania

---

Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second-largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, covering nearly 68,800 square kilometers and shared by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, with roughly half of its expanse located in northwestern Tanzania.

Its shallow basin formed as a result of tectonic activity about 400,000 years ago, lies on a high plateau at the center of East Africa, with the average depth at 40 meters and the deepest point reaching about 83 meters. The shores are home to diverse landscapes, from rocky precipices to extensive wetlands and swamps, and the lake features thousands of islands, including fishing villages and cities.

Lake Victoria is known for its rich biodiversity, including over 200 fish species, most notably tilapia, which supports millions of people living around its basin through fishing, farming, and transportation. As the chief reservoir of the Nile, the lake’s outflow becomes the Victoria Nile, marking it as a crucial source for one of Africa’s major rivers and a vital resource for the region’s environment and economy.​