Lake Tanganyika - Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia

Background Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika is the second largest fresh water lake in the world by volume and the second deepest lake after Lake Baikal in Siberia. Its volume measures approx. 18,880 cubic kilometres and its maximum depth lies at 1,470 m. With a maximum length of 673 km and a maximum width of 72 km, Lake Tanganyika covers a surface of 32,893 sq. km.

The lake is shared among four countries namely Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Zambia, with RDC holding 45 % and Tanzania 41 %. The major outflow is the Lukuga River, which empties into the Congo River system. The major inflow is the Ruzizi River, entering the north of Lake Tanganyika and coming from Lake Kivu. Further inflows are the Kalambo River and the Malagarasi River, which is Tanzania´s second largest river.

Underneath a depth of 200 m, the water of Lake Tanganyika is nearly anaerobic and without upper existence, because of the missing water recirculation. In the deepest thicknesses, the water has a fossil characteristic.

Lake Tanganyika is home to 300 fish species, 95 % of them are endemic. The chilid species dominate. Fish is the most important food source for the people, living in the lake area. More than 45,000 people work in the fish industries.

Detailed Data of Lake Tanganyika