GabyLake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the biggest tropical lake in the world. It borders three countries: Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. This lake is crucial for the survival of over 47 million people. However, in recent years, Lake Victoria has been facing a serious issue—it is steadily turning green, as reported by IFLScience. This color change is due to a rapid spread of toxic algal blooms, which is linked to a phenomenon known as eutrophication. Eutrophication refers to the accumulation of excess nutrients in the lake from agricultural runoff, wastewater, industrial waste, as well as biomass and products from forest fires. Global warming has further exacerbated the situation. Rising temperatures and increased rainfall have contributed to the rampant growth of toxic algae, explained researchers from the University of Michigan and Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
What else have scientists discovered? The research team found that a widespread species of freshwater cyanobacteria, Microcystis, responsible for the bloom of the popular blue-green algae in the Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, releases a significant amount of the toxin microcystin. “This toxin causes liver damage and can be lethal to livestock, poultry, wildlife, and humans, particularly those with weakened immune systems. In the Winam Gulf, this toxin often exceeds the acceptable limits set by the WHO,” the research team explained. Scientists also noted that intensified algal blooms due to the climate crisis lead to decreased oxygen levels and fish deaths. In some areas of the lake, the oxygen deficit is so severe that the ecosystem can no longer support life.
Researchers are urging the governments of the countries surrounding Lake Victoria to modernize agricultural infrastructure and water treatment systems, as well as to replant forests. Most importantly, they emphasize the need to protect the land from destructive human activities and prevent excessive nutrient runoff into the lake.
