Investigation of the Lake Victoria Region (Africa: Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda)

MSc Student Work (Poster) for the Course ’Advanced GIS’. Poster. Lund University, Sweden, May 2010. the poster presents a GIS analysis of the Lake Victoria region, Africa. The study area encompasses region of Victoria Lake and 3 adjoining countries: Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Lake Victoria is the second largest fresh water body on the Earth. It has unique environment and gives Origin of the Nile waters. Besides unique environment, Victoria lake plays an important role in the economy of the surrounding countries supporting 25 million people through lake fish catchment reaching up to 90-270$ per capita per annum. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda control 6%, 49% and 45% of the lake surface, respectively. Thus, the lake catchment provides for the livelihood of ca 1/3 of the population of all three countries which have an agricultural economy mostly supported by fishing and agriculture (tea and coffee plantations). The quality of the environment is therefore a fundamental factor in maintaining and increasing living standards of the growing population. The main actual problem of this region is sustainable development, well-balanced between overusing of the natural resources and human economic well-being and progress. Essential factors in this problem are rate of population growth and dimensions of natural resources management.