Lake Jipe

Lake Jipe
Location of Lake Jipe in Kenya.
Location of Lake Jipe in Kenya.
Lake Jipe
Location of Lake Jipe in Kenya.
Location of Lake Jipe in Kenya.
Lake Jipe
Lake in area below and to south east of Mount Kilimanjaro on the Tanzania and Kenya border.
Coordinates3°27′0″S 37°43′48″E / 3.45000°S 37.73000°E / -3.45000; 37.73000
Primary inflowsLumi River
Primary outflowsRuvu River (→Pangani River→Indian Ocean)
Basin countriesKenya and Tanzania
Max. length19 km (12 mi)
Surface area30 km2 (12 sq mi)

Lake Jipe is an inter-territorial lake straddling the borders of Kenya and Tanzania. On the Kenyan side, it is located south of the village of Nghonji while on the Tanzanian side, it is situated within Mwanga District, in Kilimanjaro Region. The lake is fed mainly by the Lumi River, which descends from Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as streams from the North Pare Mountains, being on the leeward side.[1] The lake's outlet forms the Ruvu River.[2] Kenya's unfenced Tsavo West National Park protects part of the lake's northern shore, while on the Tanzania side Mkomazi Game Reserve is nearby.[3] The lake is known for its endemic fish, as well as water birds, mammals, wetland plants and lake-edge swamps, which can extend 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Jipe's shore.[4]

  1. ^ "Lake Jipe Awareness Raising Strategy (2005 – 2007)" (PDF). ramsar.org. The United Republic of Tanzania: Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Wildlife Division. May 2004. p. 6. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  2. ^ Ndetei, Robert. "The role of wetlands in lake ecological functions and sustainable livelihoods in lake environment: A case study on cross border Lake Jipe - Kenya/Tanzania". Kenya Wildlife Service. p. 163. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  3. ^ Briggs, Philip (1 August 2006). Bradt Tanzania: With Zanzibar,m Pemba & Mafia. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 227–. ISBN 978-1-84162-153-1. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  4. ^ Maltby, Edward (2009). The wetlands handbook. John Wiley and Sons. pp. 854–. ISBN 978-0-632-05255-4. Retrieved 26 September 2011.