The world's second largest fresh-water lake, with 68,000 sq. km . Lake Victoria lies at an altidue of 1133m and is widely accepted to be the main source of the Nile, as it receives more water as rainfall than all its combined tributaries provide. Rivers from large areas of Western Kenya, Northern Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda gather in this shallow (only 80m deep) lake and begin, as Victoria Nile, their 6000km journey to the Mediterranean Sea. The lake's high rate of evaporation due to its location on the Equator makes this immense body of water a major factor in the local climate. 

In the morning the area is usually cloudy, but during the day the sky clears up. The northern, Ugandan shore is characterized by countless small and larger islands and long, finger-like peninsulas. In between, swampy bays reach deep into the mainland, their Papyrus-swamps providing a preferred habitat for the Sitatunga-Antelope. Small fishing villages along the shore signify the importance of this trade, with the huge Nile perches, the tasty Tilapia and the tiny Omena being the main catches. The imported Water-Hyacint has become a major menace to the fishermen - it spreads quickly across the lake, blocks jettys and beaches and damages the nets. Bilharzia is a problem too: swimming is only recommended far from any reeds.

The lake shore is highly indented, and there are many isles in the lake, some of which, especially the Sesse Group, are known for their beautiful landscape, health resorts and sightseeing places. Abundant prehistoric remains found around the lake indicate the earlydevelopment of agriculture. There are a number of coastal towns such as Kisumu (Kenya), Entebbe (Uganda), Bukoba, Muwanza and Musoma (Tanzania), connected with each other by ship routes. Also a new rail service will soon be starting in Uganda covering the whole country and connecting to Keyna and Tanzania.