Lake Kyoga
Lake Kyoga or Lake Kioga (literally 'the place of bathing' in Runyoro language) is a large shallow lake in Uganda, about 1,720 km2 (660 sq mi) in area and at an elevation of 1,033 metres. The Victoria Nile flows through the lake on its way from Lake Victoria to Lake Albert. The main inflow from Lake Victoria is regulated by the Nalubaale Power Station in Jinja. Another source of water is the Mount Elgon region on the border between Uganda and Kenya. While Lake Kyoga is part of the African Great Lakes system, it is not itself considered a great lake.
| Lake Kyoga | |
|---|---|
Landscape surrounding Lake Kyoga | |
Lake Kyoga | |
| Coordinates | 1°30′N 33°0′E |
| Type | Polymictic Basin Lakes |
| Primary inflows | Victoria Nile |
| Primary outflows | Victoria Nile |
| Catchment area | 75,000 km2 (29,000 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Uganda |
| Max. length | 200 km (120 mi) |
| Surface area | 1,720 km2 (660 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 5.7 m (19 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 1,033 m (3,389 ft) |
| Settlements | Soroti |
| References | |
The lake reaches a depth of about 5.7 metres, and most of it is less than 4 metres deep. Areas that are less than 3 metres deep are completely covered by water lilies, while much of the swampy shoreline is covered with papyrus and the invasive water hyacinth. The papyrus also forms floating islands that drift between a number of small permanent islands. Extensive wetlands fed by a complex system of streams and rivers surround the lakes. Nearby Lake Kwania is a smaller lake but deeper.