Lake Jipe
Encyclopedia
Lake Jipe is an inter-territorial lake straddling the borders of Tanzania
and Kenya
. On the Tanzanian side, it is situated within Mwanga District
, in Kilimanjaro Region
while on the Kenyan side, it is located south of the village of Nghonji. The lake is fed mainly by River Lumi
, which descends from Mount Kilimanjaro
, as well as streams from the North Pare Mountains
, being on the leeward side. The River Ruvu is the lake's outlet. 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. 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.
. Jipe covers an area of roughly 30 square kilometres (11.6 sq mi), and measures approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) long by 3–4 mi (4.8–6.4 ) broad. Jipe is a shallow backwater of the Lumi river, which afterwards becomes the Ruvu
, and enters the Indian Ocean
at Pangani
. The lake lacks a current as the river that flows in, turns round and flows out again. Its water is only drinkable after it has been well boiled and skimmed. On its southern bank, the mountains of Ugweno rise 6000–7000 ft (1,828.8–2,133.6 ), contrasting markedly with the opposite shore, which is a flat plain, but little raised above the lake. Mount Kilimanjaro
's Kibo Peak is viewable from the lake.
. Jipe's waters are teeming with big fish, principally siluroids and cyprinoids. Jipe forms a biodiversity rich ecosystem also known for the water birds that frequent its reedy shores; these include storks, egrets, pelicans, spur-winged plovers, ducks, and Egyptian geese. Lesser Jacana
and the Purple Gallinule
are common on the lake despite being rare in other parts of Africa and Madagascar Squacco Heron, Black Heron
, African Darter
and African Skimmer
s are often seen. The vicinity of the lake is frequented by herds of game; hippopotami and crocodile
s are plentiful.
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. On the Tanzanian side, it is situated within Mwanga District
Mwanga District
Mwanga is one of the six districts of the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the northeast by Kenya, to the northwest by the Moshi Rural District, to the west by the Moshi Urban District, to the southwest by the Manyara Region, and to the south by the Same District.According to the...
, in Kilimanjaro Region
Kilimanjaro Region
Kilimanjaro is one of the 26 regions in Tanzania. The capital of the region is Moshi. Kilimanjaro region is home to Mount Kilimanjaro.Kilimanjaro Region is bordered to the North and East by Kenya, to the South by the Tanga Region, to the Southwest by the Manyara Region, and to the West by the...
while on the Kenyan side, it is located south of the village of Nghonji. The lake is fed mainly by River Lumi
River Lumi
The River Lumi is located in Tanzania. It originates on the north side of Mount Kilimanjaro, and flows so close to the River Rombo as almost to form a fork...
, which descends from Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
, as well as streams from the North Pare Mountains
Pare Mountains
The Pare Mountains are a mountain range in north eastern Tanzania, north west of the Usambara Mountains. There are two mountain ranges - North and South Pare ranges, which rise to 2,463 m at Shengena Peak. They form part of the Eastern Arc of mountains. The Pare people live in the area.The Pare...
, being on the leeward side. The River Ruvu is the lake's outlet. Kenya's unfenced Tsavo West National Park
Tsavo West National Park
Tsavo West National Park is located in the Coast Province of Kenya. The park covers an area of 9,065 square kilometres. The A109 road Nairobi-Mombasa and a railway divides the park into east and west...
protects part of the lake's northern shore, while on the Tanzania side Mkomazi Game Reserve
Mkomazi Game Reserve
Mkomazi Game Reserve is located in North Eastern Tanzania on the Kenyan Border. It was established in 1951 and is found in Kilimanjaro Region and Tanga Region...
is nearby. 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.
Geography
The lake is accessible via the B1 Highway from the village of Kifaru, about 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) south of the Tanzanian town of MoshiMoshi
Moshi is a Tanzanian town with a population of 144,739 in Kilimanjaro Region. The town is situated on the lower slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro, a volcanic mountain that is the highest mountain in Africa....
. Jipe covers an area of roughly 30 square kilometres (11.6 sq mi), and measures approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) long by 3–4 mi (4.8–6.4 ) broad. Jipe is a shallow backwater of the Lumi river, which afterwards becomes the Ruvu
Pangani River
The Pangani River is a major river of northeastern Tanzania, which rises in Kilimanjaro, passes through Lake Jipe, and empties into the Indian Ocean at the town of Pangani...
, and enters the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
at Pangani
Pangani
Pangani is one of the eight districts of Tanga Region in Tanzania. It is bordered to the North by the Muheza District, to the East by the Indian Ocean, to the South by the Pwani Region and to the West by the Handeni District.The center is Pangani....
. The lake lacks a current as the river that flows in, turns round and flows out again. Its water is only drinkable after it has been well boiled and skimmed. On its southern bank, the mountains of Ugweno rise 6000–7000 ft (1,828.8–2,133.6 ), contrasting markedly with the opposite shore, which is a flat plain, but little raised above the lake. Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
's Kibo Peak is viewable from the lake.
Demographics
Some 120,000 people depend on the lake for their livelihood. The inhabitants of villages surrounding Lake Jipe are mainly involved in fishing, agriculture and animal husbandry. To the south-east of the great mountain is the little agricultural colony of Taveita. Ki-taveita is the language used by the Bantu half of the population, and Maasai is the language of the remainder. Ki-gweno is the dialect of the Ugweno mountains (Ugono) to the south of Lake Jipe.Fauna
The probability of long-time isolation from other wetlands is suggested by a fish endemic to the lake, the Jipe tilapiaJipe tilapia
The Jipe tilapia is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to Lake Jipe, straddling the borders of Kenya and Tanzania.-Source:* Bayona, J.D.R. & Hanssens, M. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
. Jipe's waters are teeming with big fish, principally siluroids and cyprinoids. Jipe forms a biodiversity rich ecosystem also known for the water birds that frequent its reedy shores; these include storks, egrets, pelicans, spur-winged plovers, ducks, and Egyptian geese. Lesser Jacana
Lesser Jacana
The Lesser Jacana is a species of bird in the Jacanidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Microparra....
and the Purple Gallinule
Purple Gallinule
Purple Gallinule is an alternative name for two species of birds in the rail family. It can refer to:* Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio of the Old World* American Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica of the New World...
are common on the lake despite being rare in other parts of Africa and Madagascar Squacco Heron, Black Heron
Black Heron
The Black Heron also known as the Black Egret, is an African heron. It is a medium-sized , black-plumaged heron with yellow legs and feet. It is found south of the Sahara Desert, including Madagascar, and prefers shallow open waters, such as the edges of freshwater lakes and ponds...
, African Darter
African Darter
The African Darter , sometimes called the Snakebird, is a water bird of sub-Saharan Africa.-Taxonomy:The African Darter is a member of the darter family, Anhingidae, and is closely related to American , Oriental , and Australian Darters.-Description:The male is mainly glossy...
and African Skimmer
African Skimmer
The African Skimmer is a skimmer that lives in Senegal to northern Congo River and southern Nile Valley, southern Tanzania to the Zambezi Valley, and then to Natal and Angola.- Appearance :...
s are often seen. The vicinity of the lake is frequented by herds of game; hippopotami and crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
s are plentiful.