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Lake Rwanyakazinga

Coordinates: 1°27′49″S 30°40′03″E / 1.46361°S 30.66755°E / -1.46361; 30.66755
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Lake Rwanyakazinga
Lake Rwanyakizinga
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Interactive map of Lake Rwanyakazinga
LocationAkagera National Park, Eastern Province
Coordinates1°27′49″S 30°40′03″E / 1.46361°S 30.66755°E / -1.46361; 30.66755
TypeFreshwater lake
Basin countriesFile:Flag of Rwanda.svg Rwanda
Max. length10.3 km (6.4 mi)
Max. width4.3 km (2.7 mi)
Surface area
19.6 km2 (7.6 sq mi)
Average depth
2.6 m (8.5 ft)
Max. depth4.3 m (14 ft)
Water volume
42,300,000 m3 (34,300 acre⋅ft)
Shore length1
43.7 km (27.2 mi)
Surface elevation
1,442 m (4,731 ft)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Rwanyakazinga (also known as Lake Rwanyakizinga) is a lake in Rwanda situated within Akagera National Park, straddling both Nyagatare District and Gatsibo District in Eastern Province. Covering 19.6 km², it lies at an elevation of 1,442 metres and forms part of one of East-central Africa's largest protected wetland systems.[1][2] The lake is a significant wildlife habitat, supporting hippopotamuses, Nile crocodiles, and diverse birdlife, and its shores and papyrus fringes are visited by a wide range of large mammals typical of the national park.[3][4]

Geography

Lake Rwanyakazinga has an area of 19.6 km² with a circumference of 43.7 km. It has an elongated shape in a south-west–north-east direction, with a maximum length of 10.3 km and a maximum width of 4.3 km. The maximum depth of Lake Rwanyakazinga is 4.3 m.[1][5] The northern side belongs to the Karangazi sector of Nyagatare District, whilst the southern side lies in the Rwimbogo sector of Gatsibo District.

To the south-east of Lake Rwanyakazinga lies Lake Mihindi. Both are part of a group of lakes situated on the other side of the Kagera River and in the Akagera marshes. However, most of the lakes are not permanently connected to the Kagera River. This occurs during the rainy season, which takes place twice a year, and many small seasonal streams also flow into the lakes at this time. The water level therefore varies by approximately 1 to 1.5 metres. Total annual rainfall in the region is 650 to 900 mm.[3][1]

A 2017 study mapping the Akagera wetland found that, while several lakes in the system had been shrinking in extent, Lake Rwanyakazinga experienced a degree of expansion between the study periods examined.[2]

Flora and fauna

Lake Rwanyakazinga is home to hippopotamuses and Nile crocodiles; turtles and amphibians are also common in the lake and its environs.[3][6] Akagera National Park supports a wide array of mammal species, and animals such as elephants, buffaloes, zebras, waterbucks, southern reedbucks, Grimm's duikers, roan antelopes, impalas, warthogs, and leopards frequent the lake's shores.[3]

The papyrus fringe habitat of the lake supports notable bird species, including the papyrus gonolek and African fish eagle. The Avibase checklist for Akagera National Park records 503 species in the park as a whole.[7]

Tilapia and catfish are the principal fish species recorded in the Akagera lakes system, including Lake Rwanyakazinga.[1][6]

Fishing

Fishing is practised on the lake.[1] Tilapia and catfish are the commercially relevant species caught in the Akagera lakes, including Lake Rwanyakazinga. The Food and Agriculture Organization has documented concern about fish stock depletion across all of the Akagera National Park lakes.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Vanden Bossche, J.P.; Bernacsek, G.M. (1990). "Rwanda". Source book for the inland fishery resources of Africa: 1. CIFA Technical Paper. Vol. 18. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization. ISBN 92-5-102983-0. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fickas, K.C.; Cohen, W.B.; Yang, Z. (2017). "Mapping and Monitoring the Akagera Wetland in Rwanda". Sustainability. 9 (2): 174. Bibcode:2017Sust....9..174N. doi:10.3390/su9020174. hdl:1854/LU-8576813.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Hughes, R. H.; Hughes, J. S. (1992). A Directory of African Wetlands (PDF). IUCN. pp. 199–210. ISBN 2-88032-949-3. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  4. ↑ "Wilderness Magashi Camp – Rwanda Luxury Safari". Yellow Zebra Safaris. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  5. ↑ Chris (31 January 2025). "Lake Rwanyakazinga in Akagera National Park". Native Africa Tours. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Progress Report on the Fisheries of Akagera National Park Lakes (PDF) (Report). Food and Agriculture Organization. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "Bird checklists – Akagera National Park". Avibase. Bird Studies Canada. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
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