Africa's Largest Lake Faces Uncertain Future Amid Climate Change Concerns

Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Its vastness makes it resemble an inland sea rather than a lake. With a surface area of 26,600 square miles, it is the largest lake in Africa, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world after North America's Lake Superior, and the largest tropical lake on Earth. Its shoreline extends over 2,000 miles and is dotted with around 1,000 islands, some of which are inhabited.

Despite its size, Lake Victoria is relatively shallow, with an average depth of just 25 meters (82 feet) and a maximum depth of 80 meters (262 feet). British explorer John Hanning Speke documented the lake in 1858 during his quest to find the source of the Nile River. Believing he had discovered its main source, he named it after Queen Victoria. The lake plays a significant role in the Nile's water system, with the Victoria Nile flowing northward into Sudan and beyond.

Over time, the lake's waters have been harnessed for hydroelectric power, with dams such as Owen Falls (now Nalubaale) Dam and Kiira Dam providing electricity for the region. Though estimated to be 400,000 years old, Lake Victoria has dried up multiple times throughout history, most recently around 17,000 years ago. Scientists warn that it could face another drying period within the next 500 years due to climate change, rising temperatures, and changing rainfall patterns.

This is particularly worrying as Lake Victoria plays a massive role in the livelihoods of millions of people. It supports the largest freshwater fishery in the world, producing over one million tonnes of fish annually and employing around 200,000 people. However, it has undergone significant biodiversity changes, particularly with the introduction of Nile perch, which has driven many native species to extinction.