Nile River & Lake Victoria

About Nile River

• Nile is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa, and is the longest river in the world.
• It rises south of the Equator and flows northward through northeastern Africa to drain into the Mediterranean Sea.
• The river passes through 11 countries: Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt.
• The Nile is formed by three principal streams: the Blue Nile and the Atbara, which flow from the highlands of Ethiopia, and the White Nile, the headstreams of which flow into Lakes Victoria and Albert.
• Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a gravity dam on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia which once completed will be the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa.

About Lake Victoria

• Lake Victoria, is the largest lake in Africa and chief reservoir of the Nile, lying mainly in Tanzania and Uganda but bordering on Kenya.
• Among the freshwater lakes of the world, it is exceeded in size (surface area) only by Lake Superior in North America.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding Lake Victoria :
1.It is the largest freshwater lake in Africa.
2.It is a major reservoir for Nile river.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only     
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims Question