Lake Naivasha
| Lake Naivasha | ||
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| Geographical location | Nakuru County , Kenya | |
| Tributaries | Gilgil and Malewa | |
| Drain | no | |
| Places on the shore | Naivasha | |
| Data | ||
| Coordinates | 0 ° 46 ′ 10 ″ S , 36 ° 20 ′ 25 ″ E | |
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| Altitude above sea level | 1880 m | |
| surface | 135 km² | |
| Maximum depth | 8 m | |
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particularities |
Freshwater lake |
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The Lake Naivasha ( Lake Naivasha ) is the highest lake in the eastern arm of the East African Rift , and just as the Baringo a freshwater lake, while all the other lakes in the eastern arm of the trench are highly alkaline.
geography
The lake is located in the eastern part of the East African Rift Valley ( Great Rift Valley ). The lake basin is bounded in the north by the volcano Mount Eburru , in the south by the Olkaria volcanic complex and the volcano Mount Longonot , in the west by the rim of the Mau Escarpment and in the east by the Kinangop plateau and the Aberdare volcanic complex ( Aberdare Range ). The 3200 km² catchment area of the lake mainly drains large parts of the rainy Aberdare Range in the east, which is the main reason for the lake's freshwater character, while the neighboring Lake Elmenteita and Lake Nakuru have an extremely negative hydrological budget and an alkaline character. The main tributaries of Lake Naivasha are the Malewa and Gilgil rivers. Lake Naivasha has no above-ground runoff, but a considerable flow of groundwater into the lower basins in the north and south is assumed. Groundwater flows into the basin have been demonstrated from the trench edges in the west and east.
The lake is entirely in Nakuru County in Kenya , about 70 km northwest of the capital Nairobi .
Flora and fauna
The lake is home to a remarkable variety of birds. Around 300 bird species have been counted here, for example ibises , fish eagles , Goliath herons , marabous , pelicans and cormorants . Giraffes , antelopes , hippos , wildebeests and zebras can be seen around the lake .
environment
The lake level of Lake Naivasha is subject to considerable fluctuations. In addition to natural influences, large flower farms (such as Sher Karuturi ), a geothermal power plant south of the lake and the extraction of drinking water from the tributaries are held responsible for the decline in the lake level. Overfishing is also one of the environmental problems at Lake Naivasha.
However, the lake level rose by more than 2 m between 2011 and 2016, which led to numerous meadows, the main source of food for the numerous hippos, as well as numerous rose farms and tourist facilities (campsites, bungalows and restaurants) being flooded. Hundreds of dead trees along the bank are evidence of the former bank boundary.
Attractions near the lake
The Nakuru National Park can be reached from here in about an hour.
Crescent Island Wildlife Sanctuary
The private Crescent Island Wildlife Sanctuary is located on an island in the lake. There are boat connections to the island from almost every lodge on the lake, combined with bird watching trips. On the island itself you can walk among the wild animals and get up to ten meters close to zebras , wildebeests and giraffes . There are no predators on the whole island, so the only danger comes from the hippos in the lake, which leave the lake and come to the island in the early evening. However, you can see from the island that it is overgrazed due to the large number of animals. The entrance fees are relatively high for tourists.
Crater Lake Game Sanctuary
The privately run Crater Lake Game Sanctuary is located near the village of Kongoni to the west of the lake. In the center of the scenic wildlife park is a crater lake surrounded by a forest. The lake is home to over a hundred different species of waterfowl. Depending on the water level of the other lakes in the Rift Valley, larger populations of flamingos can also be observed. In addition to water birds, one can observe many other species of mammals, including giraffes, zebras, baboons , eland antelopes and black or white colobus monkeys . The park can be explored both on foot and by car.
The actual lodge is located in the crater and struggles with the rising water level. The loop around the lake has already become impassable.
Hell's Gate National Park
Hell's Gate National Park is located south of the lake . In this relatively small park, only 68 km² in size, you can watch giraffes, zebras and monkeys. However, the existing leopards and cheetahs can hardly be seen. The center of the park is the Njorowa Gorge (or Hell's Gate). The national park is one of the few that can be safely explored on foot or by bike.
Elsamere Conservation Center
The Elsamere Conversation Center , the former residence of Joy and George Adamson, is located near Elsamere directly on Lake Naivash. After Joy Adamson's murder , it became a research facility with an integrated museum.
