Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika is a huge lake in central Africa. It is the longest freshwater lake in the world. The lake is also the second deepest lake in the world. It touches four countries: Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia.

Deep and Long

Lake Tanganyika is about 420 miles long but only 45 miles wide at most. It is more than 4,700 feet deep in some places. That is almost a mile straight down. The lake formed millions of years ago when the land cracked and filled with water. It sits in the Great Rift Valley of Africa.

Fishy Friends

Lake Tanganyika is famous for its fish. Almost 250 kinds of fish called cichlids live there, and most are found nowhere else. These fish come in many bright colors. People around the world keep them in fish tanks. Local people also catch fish from the lake to eat and sell.

Fun Facts

• Lake Tanganyika holds about 16 percent of all the fresh surface water in the world.
• The lake is so deep that the water at the bottom has no oxygen.
• Crocodiles and hippos live along its shores.

Did You Know?

Lake Tanganyika is one of the oldest lakes on Earth. It has been around for about 10 million years.