Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika

Located at the southern end of the western branch of the East African Rift Valley, Lake Tanganyika is the second-largest lake in East Africa. Stretching 720 kilometers from north to south, it is one of the longest freshwater lakes in the world. With a depth of 1,470 meters, it is the deepest lake in Africa and the second-deepest in the world after Russia’s Lake Baikal. The lake is 16 to 72 kilometers wide, covering an area of 32,900 square kilometers. The surface of the lake sits at an elevation of 773 meters, deeply set within the rift valley. It is home to over 300 species of fish, with the African cichlid being the most famous. The lake has well-developed water transport, with ports such as Kigoma, Ujiji, Kalemie, Uvira, and Bujumbura. Its scenic beauty makes it a popular tourist destination. Features: Lake Tanganyika serves as a border lake between Tanzania, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Burundi, and Zambia. The lake is inhabited by numerous hippos and crocodiles, and is also rich in bird species.

Lusaka, Zambia