Lake Tanganyika is among the world’s most strange and fascinating lakes.It’s separate from other water reserves and has been holding water for millions of years. This has led to the evolution of one-of-a-kind living forms existing nowhere else on Earth.This lake’s typical surface temperature is around 77 F (25 C).It is the world’s longest and second-largest freshwater lake.This lake is thought to be between 9 and 12 million years old, making it one of the world’s top 20 ancient lakes.Gustave, a Nile crocodile estimated to have been born about 1955, is one of the most notable creatures that reside in and around the lake.Lake Tanganyika is among the African Great Lakes, situated in the continent’s east.This group of lakes has around 31000 cu ft (877.8 cu m) of water, making it the world’s biggest lake collection.Although it is primarily a landlocked sea, the lake floods into the Lukuga River after years of severe rain.Lake Tanganyika is a gigantic lake in Central Africa and is among the African Great Lakes.The lake is believed to be the largest freshwater lake and the deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia.The lake is co-shared by four nations: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia.It is located near the southern end of the Western Rift Valley.The water eventually makes its way to the Atlantic Ocean via the Congo River system.It was an important trans-shipment path for slavers during the slave trade period.The Great Rift Valley’s Western Rift, which spans from Lebanon to Mozambique, contains Lake Tanganyika, which is bounded by the valley’s cliffs.Along the lake’s eastern side, two ferries transport passengers and freight.During World War I, the lake was the site of two famous engagements.Lake Tanganyika was featured in the British television program ‘Pole to Pole’ in 1992.Michael Palin, a BBC documentary filmmaker, stayed on board the MV Liemba while it crossed the lake.Continue reading to learn some more interesting facts about Lake Tanganyika. After reading these facts about Lake Tanganyika, you may also look at other articles about Lake Baikal facts and Lake Chetan facts.Location Of Lake TanganyikaAs we have already mentioned, Lake Tanganyika is located in Africa but let’s take a closer look at its geography:Sir Richard Burton was the first European to find Lake Tanganyika. He was an English intellectual, adventurer, and Orientalist.They discovered it while looking for the Nile River’s source.Burundi, Zambia, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo share the African Great Lakes, which are located in the Great Rift Valley.Lake Tanganyika is a part of the African Great Lakes in the central African Rift Valley.This lake is located precisely on the line that separates East and West Africa’s plant species.Rusizi Nature Reserve, Kigwena Forest Reserve, and Nsumbu National Park are among the forest reserves and national parks in its basin.The Lukuga River, which runs through the Lualaba River and finally into the Atlantic, is the lake’s only main outflow.Lake Tanganyika is a 12,700 sq mi (32,892.8 sq km) body of water that is within the boundaries of four nations.The bulk of the lake lies in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.The lake’s northeastern point is in Burundi, while its southwestern tip is in Zambia.Around 9-12 million years ago, the core basin of Lake Tanganyika started to emerge.Around 7-8 million years ago, the northern basin of Lake Tanganyika formed.When the western lake basin was raised 2-4 million years ago, the southern half developed.The lake’s water level sank so low thousands of years ago that it was split into three separate reservoirs into its lowest regions.When the lake isn’t overflowing, sand bars and weeds impede the lake’s departure into the Lukuga River, forcing the river to rely on its streams, particularly the Niemba River and the national park, to keep it running.Due to its high elevation, considerable size, slow rate of filling, and hilly placement in a turbulently explosive environment that has seen climatic variations, the lake has a complicated history of altering flow patterns.The western branch of the East African Rift Valley generated Lake Tanganyika around 9-12 million years ago.Lake Tanganyika is Africa’s deepest and biggest lake, as well as the largest lake of the Albertine Rift lakes.The basin has a community of over 10 million people, with a population density ranging from 13 to 250 people per sq mi.The basin’s nations are among the world’s poorest.It has a basin size of 2,23,00,000 ha (223,000 sq. km.) and stretches for 420 mi (676 km) north-south, with an average width of 31 mi (50 km).The Ruzizi River, which entered the lake from Lake Kivu some 10,000 years ago, is the largest river that flows into it.The Malagarasi River, Tanzania’s second-biggest river, flows into Lake Tanganyika on the east shore.The Malagarasi River courses through the Kigoma Region in the west of Tanzania, with one of its branches coming from the southeast part of Burundi.Mahale Mountains National Park is located in the Kigoma Region, on the east shore of Lake Tanganyika.It relies on a large inflow from Lake Kivu through the Ruzizi river to keep the lake high enough to overflow.The lake gets its water from the higher Lake Rukwa, which provides access to Lake Malawi and a Nile exit route.Importance Of Lake TanganyikaLake Tanganyika is incredibly important to both humans that live near its shores and the huge variety of wildlife that call the water their home.Hippos, crocodiles, marine snails, and a variety of fish like the pelagic fish species, the majority of which are indigenous, may all be found in Lake Tanganyika.Cichlid fish are home to around 200 indigenous species.A freshwater jellyfish species was identified in Tanganyika’s waters in 1883.The lake’s water is quite alkaline and has a high carbonate hardness.Pre - Cambrian granite rocks with igneous rocks enriched in magnesium, iron, and aluminum make up the majority of the lake’s foundation.British adventurers Richard Burton and John Speke, who were searching for the Nile River’s source in 1858, were the first Europeans to glimpse Lake Tanganyika.Lake Tanganyika fish industries have been formed in the lake due to the huge variety of fish species that live there.It’s one of the area’s most important industries, providing food for roughly 10 million people who live around this lake in Africa.There are several inlets on Lake Tanganyika, but only one outflow.The Lukuga River, which flows into the Congo River and finally into the Atlantic Ocean, is the lake’s only outlet.Although not tidal, the fertile moving surface water offers ample plankton for its residents, providing much-needed protein for both the domestic and global markets.The constant mobility, aided by the fierce winds blowing off the surrounding mountains, helps to prevent the spread of bilharzia, a parasitic illness transmitted by shallow water snails.Along the coastlines, rice and subsistence foods are farmed, and fishing is important.Oil palms, which are distinctive of the plant species of western Africa, flourish along the lake’s banks and are located on the line between the floral areas of East and West Africa.High population expansion, abuse of natural resources, invasive species, habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change are all threats to the lake.The lake is well-known in the fish hatcheries industry as a supply of highly sought-after aquarium stock.Captive fishery, oil and gas development, the Burundi border, and ecotourism in the national park are all potential investment prospects in the lake basin.High population development, abuse of minerals, exotic species, habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change are all threatening the ecological services of Lake Tanganyika and its basin.The Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA) is a regional body that coordinates development and management initiatives on the lake.Depth Of Lake TanganyikaLake Tanganyika is incredibly large and is arguably a marvel to look at. Let’s explore some other facts about its size.Having a length of 420 mi (676 km), Lake Tanganyika is the world’s longest freshwater lake.It is 31 mi (50 km) wide on average.This lake has a total surface area of 32,90,000 ha (32,900 sq km), making it the world’s sixth-biggest.It is the world’s second-biggest freshwater lake in terms of volume, with approximately 4,534 cu mi (18898.5 cu km) of freshwater.Lake Tanganyika’s shoreline runs for around 1,136 mi (1,828 km).The lake has a maximum depth of 4,823 ft (1,470 m) and an average depth of 1,870 ft (570 m).Lake Tanganyika’s water surface is 2,536 ft (773 m) above sea level.The shoreline stretches for 1,136 mi (1,828 km), roughly the whole distance between New York and Miami.Life may be found in Lake Tanganyika to a depth of approximately 200 meters.Surface waters don’t mix with water depths because of the modest temperature changes. This obstructs oxygen transfer from the lake’s surface to the bottom levels.With a maximum length of 418 mi (672.7 km), Lake Tanganyika is the world’s largest freshwater lake.It is also 45 mi (72.4 km) wide at its widest point, with an average width of 31 mi (50 km).After Lake Superior, Lake Victoria, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan, it is the world’s fifth-biggest freshwater lake overall.World Record For Lake TanganyikaLake Tanganyika is a stunning feat of nature but let’s look at some of its other accolades:Tanganyika is a part of the African Great Lakes and it is among a few of the world’s oldest lakes.Only one lake is older than Lake Tanganyika, which is Lake Baikal and is roughly twice as old, at 25 million years.It is the second-oldest freshwater lake in the world, as well as the second-largest in volume and depth.Tanganyika, spanning 418 mi (673 km), is the largest freshwater lake in the world.It is the deepest lake in Africa, with a maximum depth of 4,708 ft (1,435 m) and an average depth of 1,870 ft (570 m).Lake Tanganyika is known to be the largest and the deepest freshwater lake in the world, after Lake Baikal.It’s a long, thin lake with an incredible amount of species.On 13 August 2020, the World Records Union announced Lake Tanganyika to be ’the world’s longest freshwater lake,’ with a length of 418 mi (672.7 km).After Lake Baikal in Siberia, Lake Tanganyika, an African Great Lake, is the world’s second-oldest freshwater lake, the second-largest by quantity, and the second-deepest.It has the world’s biggest portion of freshwater and is the deepest lake, accounting for almost sixteen percent of all available freshwater.It is Africa’s biggest rift lake and the world’s second-largest lake by volume.It has a volume of 4,534 cu mi (18898.5 cu km).Tanganyika cichlids are almost entirely indigenous to the lake, making them a valuable biological resource.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our Lake Tanganyika facts, then why not take a look at our articles on the fun facts about Lake Ontario or Lake Antilla facts?

Lake Tanganyika is among the world’s most strange and fascinating lakes.