According to research, there is more than 500 species of fish that lived in this lake in the past. McAndrews, R. and D.I. The River Nile originates from Jinja in Uganda on the northern shore of Lake Victoria. Though having multiple local language names (Dholuo: Nam Lolwe; Luganda: 'Nnalubaale; Kinyarwanda: Nyanza; also Ukerewe),[16][17] the lake was renamed after Queen Victoria by the explorer John Hanning Speke, the first Briton to document it in 1858, while on an expedition with Richard Francis Burton. It's the world's largest tropical lake, where you will find more than 500 different cichlid fish species. A very public quarrel ensued, which not only sparked a great deal of intense debate within the scientific community of the day, but also much interest by other explorers keen to either confirm or refute Speke's discovery.[104]. Im sure that knowing the facts about Lake Victoria is a good idea. European Investment Bank started the project in 2013 with the aim of protecting the environmental health of the lake, through improved water and sanitation to the towns whose pollution is part of the degradation of the lake. A lot of settlements are situated around the shores of Lake Victoria and count on the waters for daily life. Believing he had found the source of the Nile on seeing this "vast expanse of open water" for the first time, Speke named the lake after Queen Victoria. African Helmeted Turtles are also found in large numbers in Lake Victoria. Ukerewe Island, Ssesse Islands, and Maboko Island are examples of this, being located in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya respectively. [68], Four species of freshwater crabs are known from Lake Victoria: Potamonautes niloticus is widespread in the lake and P. emini has been recorded from the vicinity of Bukoba in Tanzania, but both are also found elsewhere in Africa. [14][64] By itself, this vegetative matter decays slowly. [14], The lake's area is divided among three countries: Kenya occupies 6% (4,100km2 (1,600sqmi)), Uganda 45% (31,000km2 (12,000sqmi)), and Tanzania 49% (33,700km2 (13,000sqmi)).[15]. The lakes surface is 3,720 feet (1,134 metres) above sea level, and its greatest ascertained depth is 270 feet (82 metres). Future and Impact on the Environment, How Plastic Wastes Affect the Ocean (with Solutions), What is Overfishing? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The release of large amounts of untreated wastewater (sewage) and agricultural and industrial runoff directly into Lake Victoria over the past 30 years has greatly increased the nutrient levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the lake "triggering massive growth of exotic water hyacinth, which colonised the lake in the late 1990s". [88][89] This invasive weed creates anoxic (total depletion of oxygen levels) conditions in the lake inhibiting decomposing plant material, raising toxicity and disease levels to both fish and people. They . At one time, there were almost 800 species inhabiting the waters. In 19271928 Michael Graham conducted the first ever systematic Fisheries Survey of Lake Victoria. Njoka. Invasive fish, such as the Nile perch, have driven many endemic species to extinction. However, since 1997, the fishing activity has greatly reduced. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of those in your care. Lake Victoria is the largest of the African Great Lakes, and the third-largest lake in the world, behind only Lake Superior and the Caspian Sea. The plants may not have been destroyed, instead merely moved to another location. [63] Survey catches in 192728 included several Haplochromis species that are now thought to be extinct, including: Haplochromis flavipinnis, Haplochromis gowersii, Haplochromis longirostris, Haplochromis macrognathus, Haplochromis michaeli, Haplochromis nigrescens, Haplochromis prognathus. 20910. Lake Victoria/Fish. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. Is ampicillin good for respiratory infection? At the same time it was warned that this could present a serious danger to the native fish species and required extensive research into possible ecological effects before done. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The plant can hinder hydroelectric power production due to blocking the flow of water. Until 1963, the fastest and newest ferry, MV Victoria, was designated a Royal Mail Ship. [93] The water hyacinth is in remission and this trend could be permanent if control efforts are continued.[98]. [90][94], Growth of the water hyacinth in Lake Victoria has been tracked since 1993, reaching its maxima biomass in 1997 and then declining again by the end of 2001. Therefore, even though the water isnt clear, they still can see clearly. Pollution of Lake Victoria is mainly due to discharge of raw sewage into the lake, dumping of domestic and industrial waste, and fertiliser and chemicals from farms. Animal flesh decays considerably faster, however, so the fertility of the lake is dependent on the rate at which these nutrients can be taken up by fish and other organisms. Some of the most notable of these are Entebbe and Jinja (Uganda) on the northern shore, Mwanza, and Bukoba (Tanzania) to the south, and Kisumu and Kendu Bay (Kenya) to the east. Near the gardens is the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), a rehabilitation centre for native Ugandan rescue animals. Cumberlidge, N. (2009). Stay safe and get the most out of your park visit by preparing for natural hazards and other outdoor risks in Victorias parks. By using our site you accept that we use and share cookies and similar technologies with certain approved third parties. The other popular islands are the Ssese Islands in Uganda, where people come for tourism and fishing. The lake in East-Central Africa lies along the equator. In this way, the Nile perch has degraded the diverse and thriving ecosystem that was once Lake Victoria. It is the world's second-largest lake after Lake Superior. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. On April 10, 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded out of New York, with Bergh as the organization's President. [93] The invasive weed was first attempted to be controlled by hand, removed manually from the lake; however, re-growth occurred quickly. The lake also had a significant role in Africa's history. Hippos and crocodiles in Lake Victoria Lake Victoria is home to large populations of hippo and crocodiles. Because of this, this fish has successfully grown in number. [26] These changes have arisen for multiple reasons: successive burning within its basin,[27] soot and ash from which has been deposited over the lake's wide area; from increased nutrient inflows via rivers,[28] and from increased pollution associated with settlement along its shores. Technically, yes you can. In the late 1860s, the famous Scottish explorer and missionary David Livingstone failed in his attempt to verify Speke's discovery, instead pushing too far west and entering the River Congo system instead. The report, "Freshwater biodiversity in the Lake Victoria Basin", assessed the global extinction risk of 651 freshwater species, including fishes, molluscs, dragonflies, crabs, shrimps and aquatic plants native to the Lake Victoria Basin, in East Africa. Nile perch The lake's surface is 3,720 ft (1,134 m) above sea level and has a surface area of 23,145 sq mi (59,945 sq km), receiving water from the Kagera River and smaller rivers. [41] Two of the snail genera, Biomphalaria and Bulinus, are intermediate hosts of the parasite that causes bilharzia (schistosomiasis). The great river flows through Africa in a northwestern direction, through countries such as Sudan, and ends up passing through Egypt, at the tip of Africa, into the Mediterranean Sea. Its area is 26,828 square miles (69,484 square km). It can be seen with high population of this animal. Unfortunately, quite a few species disappeared in the last fifty years. Causes, Effects, Facts, and Solutions, What is Tidal Power? In recent times the lake is well-liked by Ugandan weekenders and is safe to swim. Many mammal species live in the region of Lake Victoria, and some of these are closely associated with the lake itself and the nearby wetlands. Those caught in the act of abusing an animal would now be arrested. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. Assistance dogs are welcome in Parks Victoria parks and reserves. What are the principles architectural types of Islam? Oluka, 1991. But this enormous body of water is the size of a small country in its own right! [84] Scientists argued that further introduction should wait until research showed the effect of the introduction in Kyoga, but by the late 1950s, Nile perch began being caught in Lake Victoria. The sand filtration helps reduce water-borne diseases and is based on the use of the local environment. Many animals live within the lakes catchment area, which relies on Victoria in many ways. On the expedition, John initially found 'Ukerewe' as the Arabs called it. Among the freshwater lakes of the world, it is exceeded in size only by Lake Superior in North America. Hippos According to its surface area, Lake Victoria is the largest tropical lake, the second-largest freshwater lake, and home to many different aquatic animals. Bergh's motto was "Mercy to animals means mercy to mankind." The founding of ASPCA led to animal abuse laws. The lake existed and was known to many Africans in the catchment area long before it was sighted by a European in 1858 when the British explorer John Hanning Speke reached its southern shore while on his journey with Richard Francis Burton to explore central Africa and locate the Great Lakes. It is around 400,000 years old. Jger, J., Bohunovsky, L., Radosh, L., & Sustainability Project. It has an area of 26,828 square miles where over 200 species of fish live. Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. The lake's shores vary in aspect. Human infections by this parasite are common at Lake Victoria. It is said to be the largest freshwater fish in the world.Perch, Lake Victoria. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the lake and its surrounding areas were threatened by the consequences of overfishing as well as by ecological damage from pollution and invasive species such as the Nile perch and water hyacinth. It feeds primarily on female mosquitos. The largest river flowing water into the lake is the Kagera River. Lake Victoria has more than 200 species of fish, of which the Tilapia is the most economically important. [14] Average evaporation on the lake is between 2.0 and 2.2 metres (6.6 and 7.2ft) per year, almost double the precipitation of riparian areas. Its shores are dotted with key cities and towns, including Kisumu, Kisii, and Homa Bay in Kenya; Kampala, Jinja and Entebbe in Uganda; and Bukoba, Mwanza, and Musoma in Tanzania. 49% is in Tanzania, 45% is in Uganda, and 6% is in Kenya. Lake Victoria has received the title of the largest tropical lake in the world and the second-largest freshwater lake. These Cichlids has different trait compared to other Cichlids. It also contains reptiles such as the Nile crocodile and the African helmeted turtle, and many crustaceans, including 4 different species of freshwater crab. The project aims to provide safe drinking water for an estimated one million people and improved sanitation for 100 000 people. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T15457A4587658.en, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T15458A4587788.en, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T44523A84352263.en, "Description of three new species of Potamonautes MacLeay, 1838 from the Lake Victoria region in southern Uganda, East Africa (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae)", "The diversity of benthic molluscs of Lake Victoria and Lake Burigi", "The snails spreading fever across Africa", "Haplochromine Cichlids of Lake Victoria", "Use of Anopheles-Specific Prey-Capture Behavior by the Small Juveniles of Evarcha culicivora, a Mosquito-Eating Jumping Spider", "Lake Victoria Fisheries: An introduction", "Exotic introductions to the fishery of Lake Victoria: What are the management options?
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