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Lake Victoria Facts & Worksheets

Lake Victoria serves as one of the Great Lakes of Africa. Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake in terms of surface area, the world's biggest tropical lake, and the world's second-largest freshwater lake in terms of surface area after Lake Superior in North America.

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Lake Victoria serves as one of the Great Lakes of Africa. Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake in terms of surface area, the world’s biggest tropical lake, and the world’s second-largest freshwater lake in terms of surface area after Lake Superior in North America.

See the fact file below for more information about Lake Victoria, or you can download our 29-page Lake Victoria worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GEOLOGY

  • Lake Victoria is approximately 400,000 years old. It originated when an upthrown crustal mass blocked westward-flowing rivers. 
  • The lake’s catchment region was on the western side of an uplifted area that served as a continental divide during the Miocene era, with streams on the western side flowing into the Congo River basin and rivers on the eastern side flowing to the Indian Ocean.
  • Throughout its geological history, Lake Victoria has changed from its current shallow depression to what may have previously been a series of much smaller lakes.
  • Lake Victoria has dried up completely at least three times since its formation, according to geological cores retrieved from its bottom. Moreover, these drying episodes are most likely tied to previous ice ages when precipitation decreased globally.
  • The Nile River, which exits Lake Victoria near Jinja, Uganda, is the lake’s only outflow. In terms of water contribution, this makes Lake Victoria the primary source of the Nile’s longest branch. However, the most remote source of the Nile Basin, and hence the ultimate source of the Nile, is more commonly thought to be one of the tributary tributaries of the Kagera River, which begins in either Rwanda or Burundi. 
  • The lake has eutrophic characteristics. In 1990-1991, oxygen concentrations in the mixed layer were greater than in 1960-1961, with practically constant oxygen supersaturation in surface waters. Meanwhile, oxygen levels in hypolimnetic waters were lower in 1990-1991 for a longer period.
  • However, due to its broad geographic area, the lake is considered shallow, with a maximum depth of roughly 80 meters (260 ft) and an average depth of 40 meters (130 ft). A 2016 research digitized 10,000 locations to create the lake’s first complete bathymetric map.
  • For instance, the deepest area of the lake is located near Kenya, which is usually shallower towards the west along the Ugandan shoreline and in the south along the Tanzanian beachfront.
  • The variations in oxygenation are thought to be associated with higher algal biomass and production measures. These changes have occurred due to different factors, including successive burning inside its basin, the soot and ash from which has been deposited across the lake’s vast area, increasing nutrient imports via rivers, and increased pollution linked with settlement along its coasts.

NATIVE WILDLIFE

  • Many mammals dwell in the Lake Victoria region, some strongly related to the lake and neighboring wetlands. Hippopotamus, African clawless otter, spotted-necked otter, marsh mongoose, sitatunga, bohor reedbuck, defassa waterbuck, cane rats, and giant otter shrew are among these.
  • African helmeted turtles, variable mud turtles, and Williams’ mud turtles are all found in Lake Victoria and surrounding wetlands. The Williams’ mud turtle is only found in Lake Victoria and other upper Nile basin lakes, rivers, and marshes.
  • Furthermore, the haplochromine cichlids (Haplochromis sensu lato) are the most numerous in Lake Victoria, with over 500 species, almost all of which are endemic and an estimated 300 of which are yet unknown.
  • Lake Victoria used to be abundant in fish, including numerous endemics, but many have become extinct since the 1940s. 
  • Victoria haplochromines are sexually dimorphic, and their ecology is exceedingly diversified, with at least 16 groups comprising detritivores, zooplanktivorous, insectivores, prawn-eaters, molluscivora, and piscivores.
  • It is believed that at least 200 species (approximately 40%) of Lake Victoria haplochromines have been extinct due to predation by the invasive Nile perch, eutrophication, and other ecosystem disturbances, affecting more than 100 undescribed species.
  • The zooplanktivorous have been the least affected, reaching populations comparable to those before the dramatic losses, despite having fewer species and frequently shifting their diet to macroinvertebrates.
  • Michael Graham conducted the first systematic Fisheries Survey of Lake Victoria in 1927-1928. In his official expedition report, Graham stated, “The ngege or satu Tilapia esculenta is the most significant aquatic fish of the lake, either for native or non-native consumption.”
  • On the other hand, as of 1997, Lake Victoria supported Africa’s largest inland fishery. Initially, the fishery focused on indigenous species such as tilapia and haplochromine cichlids, but it also included catfish, elephant fish, ningu, and marbled lungfish.
  • In the 1950s, numerous species of non-native tilapia and Nile perch were imported to the lake to improve fishing. Due to its limited size, the rich open-water Lake Victoria sardine only supported little fisheries until the decrease of other indigenous.
  • Annual landings of Nile perch in Lake Victoria peaked in the early 1990s at 500,000 tonnes but have since dropped dramatically.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

  • Lake Victoria has many environmental challenges, including the extinction of numerous endemic cichlid species, described as the “most dramatic example of human-caused extinctions within an ecosystem.” 
  • Many species were introduced to Lake Victoria in the 1950s when they became invasive and were a significant cause of the loss of several endemic haplochromine cichlids. It was recommended as early as the 1920s to import a large aquatic predator to improve the lake’s fisheries. At the same time, it was advised that this could pose a significant threat to native fish species and that substantial research into potential ecological implications was required before proceeding. 
  • The presence of the Nile perch has upset the natural balance of the lake’s environment. The uncontrolled eating habits of the Nile perch are altering and, in some cases, breaking the food chain. As a result of the decline in the number of algae-eating fish, the algae can develop at an alarming rate, strangling the lake. 
  • Hundreds of indigenous species, under the unique circumstances provided by Lake Victoria’s protection, have gone extinct, and several more are still vulnerable. For instance, water hyacinth has grown into a major invasive plant species. Over the last 30 years, the release of enormous quantities of untreated solid waste and agricultural and industrial runoff directly into Lake Victoria has dramatically increased the lake’s nutrient levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, “triggering massive growth of exotic water hyacinth, which colonized the lake in the late 1990s.” 
  • The growth of the water hyacinth in Lake Victoria has been studied since 1993, with the biomass peaking in 1997 and then dropping by the end of 2001. The invasive weed was initially controlled by hand, with physical removal from the lake; however, re-growth happened swiftly. There were also public awareness exercises.
  • Small beaches and municipal governments near the lake lack sufficient sewage treatment infrastructure, causing pollutants to enter the water. Increased logging and deforestation have resulted in environmental degradation throughout the region, limiting harmful chemical absorption and deteriorating water quality.

USAGE OF WATER

  • The Lamadi water system is a water and sanitation facility that serves Mwanza and the Lake Victoria satellite towns of Lamadi, Misungwi, Magu, Bukoba, and Musoma. Sand functions as a sieve and filters away sediment and suspended materials. The water is then ready to be disinfected or otherwise treated.
  • Lake Victoria boats have been an essential mode of transportation between Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya since the early 1900s. Until 1963, the MV Victoria, the fastest and most modern ferry, was known as a Royal Mail Ship. 

Lake Victoria Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Lake Victoria across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake in terms of surface area, the world’s biggest tropical lake, and the world’s second-largest freshwater lake in terms of surface area after Lake Superior in North America.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Lake Victoria Facts
  2. Patch It Up!
  3. I Lake The Words
  4. H2O
  5. The BESToria Lake
  6. #WILDLIFE
  7. Completely Different
  8. Geo Check!
  9. Cross the Lake
  10. My Own Victory(ia)
  11. Give and Lake

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the location of Lake Victoria?

Lake Victoria is located in East Africa. It is bordered by three countries: Uganda to the north, Kenya to the northeast, and Tanzania to the south.

How large is Lake Victoria?

Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa by surface area. It covers approximately 68,800 square kilometers (26,600 square miles). It is also one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world.

What is the primary source of inflow for Lake Victoria?

The primary source of inflow for Lake Victoria is the Kagera River, which flows into the lake from its southwestern side. Other smaller rivers and streams also contribute to its inflow.

What is the significance of Lake Victoria?

Lake Victoria is of great ecological, economic, and cultural significance. It supports a diverse range of wildlife, including a variety of fish species. The lake is also a vital source of livelihood for the people in the surrounding region, as fishing is a major industry. Additionally, it has a rich cultural history and is an essential water resource for the local communities.

What challenges does Lake Victoria face?

Lake Victoria faces several challenges, including pollution, overfishing, and the introduction of invasive species. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and untreated sewage has led to water quality issues. Overfishing has depleted some fish populations, and the introduction of non-native species, such as the Nile perch, has disrupted the lake’s ecosystem. Efforts are ongoing to address these challenges and promote sustainable management of the lake’s resources.

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Link will appear as Lake Victoria Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 9, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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