Kenya - Lake Naivasha

The lake is located at 0°42' - 0°50'S /36°16' - 36°26 'E and has an area of 15,600ha (including islands), at an altitude of 1884m asl. It is believed that some 6000-13,000 years ago, Lake Naivasha was part of a much larger lake that encompassed the present lakes Elementaita and Nakuru, and discarded down the Rift Valley southwards. The lake is a fresh water lake with a catchment of 2,378 km2. Other temporally watercourses descent from the forested slopes of Oldoinyo opuru ridge, and extends eastward from Mau escarpment, across the valley north of the lake. The principle water supply to the lake is from Aberdare Mountains. Two rivers drain these areas and enter the lake. The Malewa river has a catchment of 1,730km2 and provides 90% of the inflow. Ground water seepage, particularly along the north and northeast shores is reputedly responsible for up to 16% of the total influx. There is probably a sub-terranean drainage system, but this has yet to be verified. Lake Naivasha was designated as a RAMSAR site in 1995 and is managed by the local property owners under the Lake Naivasha Riparian Association formed in 1934.