Victoria Nyanza
a great freshwater lake in east central Africa, situated on the equator; area, over 30,- 000 square miles. It lies about 3,880 feet above sea-level. The geological evidence points to the origin of its basin having taken place at a very remote period, a number of terrace-like faults along the W. shores suggesting a series of immense landslips as a probable cause of the formation of the hollow which now contains the lake. The traces of volcanic action do not seem sufficient to account for so large a depression.
The prevailing rocks are gneiss and schists, with porphyritic granite at the S. extremity, and some lava and ironstone toward the N. The igneous area is, upon the whole, barren and desolate looking, the remainder of the basin being clothed with luxurious tropical flora, exceedingly varied in character. This variety is, perhaps, most strikingly exhibited on some of the islands. The fauna is also varied, the number of alligators frequenting the waters being very large. Hippopotami, though less frequently met with, are exceedingly fierce, and are held in great dread by the native boatmen. The water is good and fresh, though somewhat insipid to taste, and frequently assumes a dirty white color. The lake is drained by the Nile, and its chief feeders are the Kajera, the Nzoia, the Shimiyu, and the Katonga. The lake, whose native name is Ukerewe, was discovered by Speke in 1858, visited by him and Grant in 1861-1862, and subsequently partly explored by Stanley (1875), Mackay, Thomson, and others. a