A lake is a body of water surrounded by land. Lakes play an important role in supporting ecosystems and providing freshwater. Many lakes are also popular tourist destinations. Africa is home to some of the largest lakes in the world. Let’s explore the largest lakes in Africa by area and volume.
Largest Lakes in Africa by Area
1. Lake Victoria
| Lake | Area | Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Victoria | 68,800 sq km | Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya |
Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa by surface area. It is a major source of the White Nile River, which is a tributary of the Nile River. Located in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, Lake Victoria is also the third largest lake in the world by area after the Caspian Sea and Lake Superior.
2. Lake Tanganyika
| Lake | Area | Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Tanganyika | 32,900 sq km | Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, Zambia |
Lake Tanganyika is the second-largest lake in Africa by surface area. It is also the second-deepest lake in the world, after Lake Baikal in Russia, reaching a maximum depth of approximately 1.5 km.
3. Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa)
| Lake | Area | Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Tanganyika | 29,600 sq km | Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania |
Lake Malawi is the third largest lake in Africa by area. It is known for its extraordinary biodiversity, hosting more fish species than any other lake on Earth.
Largest Lakes in Africa by Volume
Lake size can also be measured by the volume of water it contains, which produces a different ranking from surface area. Lake Tanganyika ranks first in Africa by volume, followed by Lake Malawi and Lake Victoria. Lake Tanganyika holds significantly more water than the other two lakes because of its great depth.
- Lake Tanganyika (World rank: 3)
- Lake Malawi
- Lake Victoria
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