Incredible Lakes

Flying from Addis Ababa, through an Ethiopia healing from civil strife, to Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), I couldn’t help being stricken by the vastness and significance of the lakes I passed over. These waterbodies are not just geographical features— they are integral to the region’s ecosystem, culture and history. The flight gave me a rare aerial glimpse of some of Africa’s most iconic lakes, many of which are marred by tension and conflict, yet celebrated for their natural beauty.

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One of the first lakes visible from my flight was Lake Kivu, located on the border between Rwanda and the DRC. This volatile lake, nestled in the Albertine Rift, holds large amounts of methane and carbon dioxide beneath its surface, making it a potentially dangerous waterbody. The political rivalry between Rwanda and the DRC is closely tied to the lake, as both countries contest its resources. Kivu drains into the Ruzizi River, which flows southward into Lake Tanganyika, another massive and critical lake in the region.

Flying further, I glimpsed Lake Tanganyika, the longest freshwater lake in the world and the second deepest. Its waters touch the shores of four countries—Tanzania, Burundi, the DRC and Zambia. The immense depth of Tanganyika is due to the Rift Valley, creating steep shorelines and a unique ecosystem. However, despite its natural wealth, the lake is a focal point of tension, often tied to regional disputes. This makes it a political boundary as well.