Lake Victoria 

Researchers from North America and Kenya have finished a genetic study of cyanobacteria in Kenya’s Winam Gulf, Lake Victoria. 

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Key Highlights  

• In freshwater and marine environments, cyanobacteria create dense blooms, which may be toxic. 
• The name “blue-green algae” for cyanobacteria comes from the greenish hues their colonies create in water. 
• These blooms harm ecosystems, reduce water quality, and are a serious threat to humans, animals, and aquatic life. 
• A new study investigated cyanobacteria in various Gulf regions, focusing on their community structure, roles, and biosynthetic capacity. 
• The Winam Gulf is one of Lake Victoria’s most productive fishing basins. 

 

About Lake Victoria 

• Geographical Location: East Africa 
• Bordering Countries: Kenya (6%), Uganda (43%), and Tanzania (51%). 
• The world’s largest tropical lake, Lake Victoria, is the second-largest freshwater lake by surface area, after Lake Superior. 
• Other Names: It is also known as Victoria Nyanza in Kenya, Nalubaale in Uganda, and Ukerewe in Tanzania. 
• The White Nile River originates here, flowing north to join the Blue Nile in Sudan, forming the Nile River, which drains into the Mediterranean Sea. 
• It was named after Queen Victoria of England.