Lake Albert

Lake Albert also Albert Nyanza, lake, east central Africa, in western Uganda and to the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Located in the Rift Valley, Lake Albert is elliptical in shape, about 160 km (100 mi) long and about 35 km (22 mi) at the widest part, with no depth exceeding 17 m (55 ft); the area is about 5,350 sq km (2,065 sq mi). The surface of the lake is about 610 m (2,000 ft) above sea level and is estimated to have been about 915 m (3,000 ft) above sea level in recent geological times. One of the sources of the River Nile, Lake Albert receives the waters of Lake Victoria to the south-east by way of the Victoria Nile and of Lake Edward to the south-west by way of the Semliki River. It is drained to the White Nile on the north by way of the Albert Nile. Lake Albert was sighted in 1864 by the British explorer Sir Samuel Baker, who named it in honour of Albert, prince consort of Great Britain. Since 1894 it has formed part of the boundary line between the countries that are now Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.