Location: Naivasha Map
Area: 139 km²
Lake Naivasha is situated near a town of Naivasha in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It covers an area of 139 km² of the Great Rift Valley. The name of Lake Naivasha come from a local Maasai language as "rough water". This name is given due to sudden changes of weather that turn to violent storms. These might be dangerous to humans so swimming or taking a boat out without guidance of local people might be foolish and dangerous for your health. Additionally Lake Naivasha contains a sizeable population of hippos. These seemingly gentle and quiet creatures might be quiet dangerous at times.
Naivasha (Swahili Naivasha; obsolete. Naivash
transfer) - a freshwater lake in Kenya. Located northwest of
Nairobi, near the city of Naivasha. It is part of the chain of lakes
of the Great Rift Valley. The area of the lake is 139 km².
The name of the lake comes from the Masai word Nai’posha, which can
be translated as “stormy water”, which is probably due to the sudden
storms that occur in these places.
Naivasha is located in the
highest part of the Kenyan rift valley, at an altitude of 1884 m
above sea level. Three permanent rivers flow into the lake - Melava,
Gilgil and Karati. There are no rivers flowing from the lake, but an
underground outflow is assumed. The average depth is 6 m, the
maximum depth is 30 m. The city of Naivasha is located at the
northeastern tip of the lake.
Naivasha is home to nearly 400
species of birds. There is a fairly significant population of
hippos. Near Naivashi there are 2 small lakes: Oloiden and Sonachi.