What is africas largest lake

Read more about the most beautiful places to visit in Uganda. Another activity that makes this area unique in Africa is the interactive cultural village visits within the villages. Here you can stay in a village, visit a school, and learn to cook in traditional ways. Lake Retba is known as the Pink Lake of Senegal.

It contains almost the same amount of salt as the Dead Sea. The pink hue is caused by the Dunaliella Salina bacteria, which grows there because of the high salinity. The salinity of the lake makes living organisms rare, but neither the Dunaliella Salina bacteria nor the high salinity are harmful to humans.

Salt is harvested from the lake and used to preserve fish by the locals. Planning a trip? Check out our guide: 16 Safest Countries in Africa. The lake forms two large fingers, one completely within the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and one split between the DRC and Rwanda. This lake is on the rift, where the continent is breaking apart and occasionally experiences volcanic activity.

Several National Parks are located nearby. Volcanoes National Park, in Rwanda, is home to active volcanoes and primates, including gorillas. This park is a terrific location to witness the wilds of the heart of Africa.

This lake offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Quaint lodges and huts speckle the shoreline. Be sure to read recent reviews before booking. Lake Kivu is full of methane gas that they are pumping and certain areas have become less desirable because of the industrial activity nearby. Lake Assal is a must-visit spot if you are in Djibouti. This salty lake lies m ft below sea level. Water primarily leaves the lake through evaporation.

It is ten times saltier than the ocean. This lake is located in the middle of the Danakil Desert. Much of the lake bed is made of black lava fields. Visitors describe the lake and surrounding area as eerie or apocalyptic. The salt makes strange formation is it collects and erodes and is a favorite feature of visitors there.

The array of green hues the lake gives off due to the shallowness of the lake and the salt content also make for interesting observations. More reading: Guide to the 12 Highest Mountains in Africa. Africa is noted for its unique wildlife and spectacular terrain, but the diverse and plentiful grand lakes on this continent should not be overlooked. Have a question to ask — or maybe a fact to share?

Join us in the comments! I also blog about photography with a focus on GoPro and action cameras. Here is the gear we love to travel with. To capture our adventure and to travel safe and comfortable. The water of Lake Turkana is considered unfit for human consumption and cannot be used by humans or animals. It has a surface area of 2, square miles, a maximum depth of feet, and an average depth of 99 feet.

It is the second deepest in Africa,with a maximum depth of 2, feet and an average depth of feet. It has an area of 11, square miles and holds 2, cubic miles of water. It is the ninth-largest lake in the world. Lake Tanganyika is the longest freshwater lake in the world. It is the second largest lake by volume, second deepest, and second oldest. In all cases, only Lake Baikal in Russia is larger.

Lake Tanganyika holds 4, cubic miles of water and covers an area of 12, square miles. Its deepest point is 4, feet, while its average depth is 1, feet. Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater body in Africa and the second largest in the world, smaller only than Lake Superior, which is one of North America's Great Lakes. The lake is located between Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, although Tanzania holds the largest share. Lake Victoria receives its water from rainfall and several rivers, including the Nile.

It covers a surface area of 26, square miles, has a depth of feet at its deepest point, and an average depth of feet. Hippos on Lake Albert. Harder to access than other African Great Lakes due to the steep mountains surrounding it, Lake Albert doesn't attract a lot of tourists. But those who make it here will be rewarded with a beautiful sight. Africa's seventh-largest lake is also Uganda's second largest, and the lake is a significant source of water for the White Nile River.

At just 80 feet deep, Lake Albert is relatively shallow when compared to other African lakes. Its shores are protected by wildlife and forest reserves. Here, the Victoria Nile River rushes through a narrow, rocky gap before making a huge drop into a pool. Wildlife here includes elephants, hippos, and chimpanzees. Aerial view of Lake Chad.

Lake Chad is a very shallow lake, with its deepest part only reaching about 30 feet in depth. Still, it is the largest lake in northern Africa when it comes to area, and borders four countries: Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger. Surrounded by the Sahara Desert, Lake Chad is a refuge for many animals.

It is popular with bird-watchers, and the best time to visit is during the August to December rainy season, when the water level is highest. Thousands of flamingos on Lake Nakuru.

Part of Kenya's safari trail , Lake Nakuru in the Rift Valley is famous for its large flamingo population and can resemble a sea of pink at times.

The lake is surrounded by Lake Nakuru National Park, which is home to numerous African animals, including black and white rhinos, giraffes, warthogs, baboons, lions, and cheetahs. While most travelers visit Lake Nakuru on part of an organized safari that usually includes other parks as well, if you want to visit on your own, there are campgrounds on the lake's shores. There are also a few lodges if you want to stay in more style.

One option is Lake Nakuru Lodge , which is inside the boundaries of the national park. It is home to a mix of suites and rooms in a farmhouse and has great views of the lake from its restaurant.

Traditional houses of the El Molo tribe on the shores of Lake Turkana. Kenya's Lake Turkana is the largest permanent desert lake in the world, as well as its biggest alkaline lake.

It is also the fourth-largest salt lake on the planet. The national parks are also home to a variety of different animals, including Nile crocodiles and hippos. A bird-watcher's paradise, Lake Turkana is home to hundreds of bird species that are only found in Kenya. Also keep an eye out for the Turkana mud turtle, which is native to the lake. The result of the creation of a dam along the Nile River in the midth century, Lake Nasser borders Egypt and Sudan, although most of the lake is on Egypt's land.

On the Sudanese side, it is referred to as Lake Nubia. It is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Fishing is one of the most popular things to do on this lake, which is home to a prolific population of Nile perch. Boat cruises are also popular on the Egyptian side, where you'll get great views of the statue of Ramses II at the Abu Simbel Temple on the shore of the lake.

Try a sunset cruise for the best photo ops. Lake Sibaya. Lucia and Kosi Bay at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Because this region is protected, Lake Sibaya is quite pristine. It is best known for its large population of hippos, and many visitors will see them on a guided kayaking trip or an evening sunset cruise.

The lake is also home to crocs and prolific birdlife. If you are interested in fishing trips, there are 18 different species of fish. Fans of frogs will love this lake, as it is home to 22 different species, including grass frogs, reed frogs, and toads.

If you want to stay near the lake, there are some lodging options, including Thonga Beach Lodge.