|
Nakuru
 |
|
| Flamingos on Lake Nakuru, Kenya |
 |
General Information
| Description |
Lake Nakuru, located in the East African Rift valley, is protected by a surrounding National Park (1961) that covers 90 square miles. Lake Nakuru National Park is the only park within Kenya to be enitrely fenced in. Protective measures within the park have helped threatened species, including the famous Black Rhino, to repopulate. Lake Nakuru is also known for its spectacular bird populations including both the Lesser and greater Flamingo. |
|
| Country |
Kenya
|
|
| Latitude |
0° -24' 0"
(-0.4000) |
|
| Longitude |
36° 5'
0" (36.0833) |
|
| State |
|
|
| Lake Region |
Rift Valley Lakes
|
|
Maps
|
Nakuru global index map (LakeNet Explorer)
|
|
|
|
Nakuru locator map |
|
|
|
Lakes of East Africa |
|
|
|
Africa Lake Biodiversity Conservation Priorities 2003 |
|
Physical Characteristics
| Description |
Lake Nakuru is fed by four seasonal rivers and the permanent Ngosur River. The seasonal rivers are the Njoro, Nderit, Makalia and Lamudhiak, all of which originate in the Eastern Mau Forest. The Mau Forest is also part of the catchment basin for several other Rift Valley lakes. |
|
| Volume |
0.09 km3 |
|
| Surface Area |
44.00 km2 |
|
| Depth |
Mean depth: 2.5 m
Maximum depth: 4.5 m
|
|
| Origin |
Tectonic
|
|
| Type |
Brackish
Permanent
Natural
|
|
| Catchment |
Catchment size: 1,800.00
km2
Catchment/surface area ratio: 41:1 |
Socio-Political
| Economic Value |
Within the neighboring town of Nakuru nearly 50% of urban farmers use irrigation to support agriculture despite the fact that the use of domestic water for irrigation is illegal. Further, 97.5% of Nakuru's population relies on agriculture for food. (Urban Agriculture, ASC) |
|
| Major Cities |
Nakuru (estimated population growth of 10% per annum) |
|
| Population |
360,000 (1997) |
Watershed Management
| Description |
The Kenya Forest Working Group - a sub-committee of the East Africa Wildlife Society comprised of national, international and local, governemental and non-governmental organizations - is working with conservation and management of water catchment area and downstream agriculture. WWF is also working to control pollution, and siltation threats by increasing public participation and support through education. |
|
| Issues |
Presence of heavy metals (lead, zinc, mercury copper and arsenic) have been linked to the massive deaths of flamingos on Lake Nakuru. Pollution in Kenyan lakes is widely attributed to the collapse of urban sewage systems and unregulated industrial effluent discharge. |
|
| Other Issues |
Erosion
Point source pollution
Polluted runoff
Toxics
|
|
| Specific Contaminants |
Industrial
Mercury
Pesticides
|
|
| Monitoring |
WWF has helped create a Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry (PRTR) to track pollutants released by local industries. |
|
| Monitoring Programs |
In-Lake
Water Quality
Tributaries/Watershed
Water Quality
Land Use
|
Biodiversity Conservation
| Description |
Both the Greater and Lesser Flamingo inhabit Lake Nakuru. Flamingos on the lake appear to be bioaccumulating heavy metals.
Nakuru is also home to a wide variety of terrestrial birds (about 450 species) and 56 mammal species including the white rhino. In areas surrounding the lake there are 550 unique species of plants. Notably, the blue-green cyanophyte Spirulina platensis grows in dense blooms, which colors the lake as well as providing major food source for the flamingo. (Kenya Wildlife Service) |
|
| Designations |
LakeNet Biodiversity Priority
National Designation
Ramsar Site
WWF Global 200
|
|
| Species of Concern |
|
|
LakeNet Programs
Documents
Resources
News
Additional Data Sources
| • |
Birkett, C., and I. Mason. 1995. A new global lakes database for remote sensing programme studying climatically sensitive large lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 21 (3) 307-318. |
|
| • |
Duker, L. and L. Borre. 2001. Biodiversity conservation of the world's lakes: a preliminary framework for identifying priorities. LakeNet Report Series Number 2. Annapolis, Maryland USA. |
|
| • |
International Lake Environment Committee, the United Nations Environment Program and Environment Agency, Government of Japan. 1997. World Lakes Database. |
|
Search again
|
