Lake Edward or Edward Nyanza is the smallest of the Great Lakes of Africa and is located in the western Great Rift Valley. Found on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The northern shore of the lake falls only a few kilometers south of the Equator. The lake was named by the explorer Henry Morton Stanley in honour of Prince Albert Edward, The Prince of Wales. Stanley first saw the lake in 1875, and thought it was part of Lake Albert and it named Beatrice Gulf. During his second visit in 1888 -1889, he realized that these were two independent lakes, and gave it its current name. In the 1970s -1980s, Uganda and the then Zaire later DRC renamed it Lake Idi Amin or Lake Idi Amin Dada after Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. After he was overthrown in 1979, the name was reverted to Lake Edward.
Lake Edward lies at an elevation of 920 metres, is 77 km long by 40 km wide at its maximum points covering a total surface area of 2,325 km² and its the 15th largest in Africa. L.Edward is fed by the waters of rivers Nyamugasani, the Ishasha, the Rutshuru and Rwindi travels northward and empties through the Semliki River into Lake Albert. Lake George to the northeast empties into Lake Edward via the Kizinga Channel. The western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley towers up to 2000 m above the western shore of the lake. The southern and eastern shores are flat lava plains. The Ruwenzori Mountains lie 20 km north of the lake and the region shows much evidence of volcanic activity in the last 5000 years. Lake Edward lies completely within the Virunga National Park (Congo) and the Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda) and does not have extensive human habitation on its shores, except at Ishango (DRC) in the north, home to a park ranger training facility. About two-thirds of its waters are in the DR Congo and one third in Uganda.
Accommodation at Lake Edward The Mweya Safari Lodge is the main tourist facility, serving both Lake Edward and Lake Katwe. The nearest cities are Kasese in Uganda to the north-east and Butembo in DR Congo, to the north-west, which are respectively about 50 km and 150 km distant by road. Attractions at Lake Edward
Lake Edward is home to over 50 species of fish. Fishing is an important activity among local residents. Chimpanzees, elephants, crocodiles, and lions – are protected by the national parks. The area is also home to many perennial and migratory bird species.
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