Lake Edward is located in western Uganda in the Albertine Rift, on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Virunga National Park in the DRC and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda surround the lake.
The lake has a surface area of 2,325 sq km and a maximum length of 77 km and a width of 40 km with an average depth of 17 m. From the British royal family, Prince Albert Edward, The Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII, is where the lake derives its name.
More About Lake Edward
It is alleged that both Lake Edward and Lake George were one larger lake in the past. But the lava that flowed from the nearby fields; the Nyamuragira and Maya-ya-Moto volcanoes flowed in and divided the two. This left the Kazinga channel connecting the two lakes.
Lake Edward has got numerous tributaries such as the Ishasha, Rutshuru, Nyamugasani, Ntungwe, and Rwindi rivers. Of these, the most significant is the Rutshuru River, well-thought-out being the western stream of River Nile.
The lake’s major outflow is the Semuliki River which begins near Ishango in Congo in the Northwest, and strolls to the North, flanked by the Rwenzori mountains. The lake is linked to the River Nile water system via this river.
Lake George which is on the northeastern side of Lake Edward flows into it through the Kazinga channel, which connects the two lakes. The western escarpment is in the direction of the western shores and Rwenzori mountains – which are 20 km north of the lake.
The shores have got no larger human settlements with the exception of Ishango in the north and the section of DRC. Vitshumbi, in Congo, Mweya, and Katwe on the Ugandan side, are the smaller towns on the shoreline.
Wildlife at the Lake
Lake Edward has got two national reserves on its shores. These include the Virunga National Park in the DRC, comprising the northwestern shores of the lake. The Semuliki Valley, and the low valley grasslands and marshlands of Rutshuru, Rwindi, and Ishasha rivers.
The lake’s north-eastern shores border Queen Elizabeth National Park, a tourist attraction in Uganda recognized for its biological importance. Kigezi Game Reserve is placed on the southeastern shorelines.
Lake Edward is home to lots of fish and therefore fishing is a vital activity for local residents. The water’s edge has got diverse animals like elephants, crocodiles, lions, buffaloes, and hippopotamuses. The lake and its environs are also home to various perennial and wandering bird species.