Diagnostic analysis of the major threats of Lake Tanganyika and proposals for improving its ecological status

Analyse diagnostique des principales menaces du lac Tanganyika et propositions d'améliorer de son état écologique

Lambert Niyoyitungiye (1)

1 Assam University

Lake Tanganyika is one of the largest lakes of Africa and second biggest Lake Considering the area after Lake Victoria. Worldwide, it is the longest fresh water lake and holds second position in terms of depth after Lake Baikal and third place in terms of volume after the Caspian Sea and Lake Baikal (Wetzel, 1983 and Kar, 2013). The lake is subject to frequent fluctuations in the chemistry of its water and to desiccation (Wetzel, 2001) due to sudden changes in weather conditions. It is facing a serious pollution problem from various sources, such as discharge of domestic sewage, population growth, rise of industrialization, use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in agriculture, sedimentation and erosion resulting from deforestation. So, the surface waters of Lake Tanganyika are highly polluted by different harmful contaminants from human activities in large cities established on its catchment areas.

Domaines: Sciences de l'environnement; Ingénierie de l'environnement; Biodiversité et Ecologie

Lambert Niyoyitungiye. Diagnostic analysis of the major threats of Lake Tanganyika and proposals for improving its ecological status. 2020. ⟨hal-02882704⟩