Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in Kenya, part of the Great Rift Valley.
The name derives from the local Maasai name Nai'posha, meaning "rough water" because of the sudden storms which can arise. The lake has a surface area of 160 square kilometres, but this can vary largely depending on rainfall. It is situated at an altitude of 1,890 metres / 5900 ft. The lake has an average depth of 5 metres.
The lake is home to a variety of wildlife; over 400 different species of bird have been reported. It is particularly famous for its flamingos. There are two smaller lakes in the vicinity of Lake Naivasaha: Oloiden and Sonachi (a green crater lake).
Between 1937 and 1950 the lake was used as a landing place for flying boats on the Imperial Airways passenger and mail route from Southampton in Britain to South Africa. It linked Kisumu and Nairobi.
At a roughly similar time, Joy Adamson, the author of Born Free, lived on the shores of the lake.
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Last updated: 05-16-2005 07:14:04
