{"id":14456,"date":"2024-01-27T05:45:11","date_gmt":"2024-01-27T04:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=14456"},"modified":"2024-01-27T05:45:11","modified_gmt":"2024-01-27T04:45:11","slug":"which-body-of-water-is-the-nile-river-primary-reservoir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/which-body-of-water-is-the-nile-river-primary-reservoir\/","title":{"rendered":"Which Body Of Water Is The Nile River Primary Reservoir"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Nile River is an iconic river, known for its long journey across north-eastern Africa. It is a vital source of fresh water and fertile land in the region, as well as being a major trading and transportation corridor. But perhaps the most important fact about the Nile River is its primary reservoir – Lake Victoria. Located mainly in Uganda and Tanzania, Lake Victoria is the source of over 70 percent of the Nile River system’s water, and serves as the river’s largest and most important impoundment.<\/p>\n

Lake Victoria is considered by many to be the key hub of African hydrology. It is the largest lake in Africa and second largest fresh-water lake in the world. It also holds the title of being the world’s largest tropical lake as it is surrounded by tropical forest. The lake’s surface area is approximately 69,000 square kilometres with a depth of approximately 80 metres. <\/p>\n

The lake has a huge political, environmental and psychological role to play in the lives of people near its shore. It not only provides electricity, irrigation and various industrial services; it also assists in providing food security and well-being in the region by supporting the traditional livelihoods of the local people. This is reflected in the almost universally described importance of the lake in the local language, which translates as “The Father of Waters”.<\/p>\n

Dr William Reid from the African Great Lakes Network (AGLN) believes that Lake Victoria is the centre of social, political and economic activity for the people living around its shores. “The lake provides an essential source of water for domestic and industrial use, as well as for irrigation for local farmers’ crops,” explains Dr Reid. “It is also a centre for fishing and tourism, so income from that contributes significantly to the economy of the local area.”<\/p>\n