A lake is a body of water surrounded by land. Lakes can support large populations and can also be great tourist spots. Africa is home to some of the world’s largest lakes. Let’s learn about them.
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 area. The lake is very deep, approximately 1.5 km. Only lake Baikal in Russia is deeper than Lake Tanganyika.
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 area
- Lake Victoria (World rank: 3)
- Lake Tanganyika
- Lake Malawi
- Lake Turkana
- Lake Albert
Largest lakes in Africa by volume
- Lake Tanganyika (World rank: 3)
- Lake Malawi
- Lake Victoria
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