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Difficulty: Very hardDrainage Systems: Major Rivers and Lakes of Africa

The East African Rift System contains a prominent series of tectonic lakes formed along its eastern and western branches. Arrange the following major East African lakes in sequential order from north to south based on their latitudinal position.

  1. 1Lake Turkana (Lake Rudolf)
  2. 2Lake Albert (Lake Mobutu Sese Seko)
  3. 3Lake Tanganyika
  4. 4Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa)

Answer

The correct sequence from north to south is Lake Turkana, followed by Lake Albert, then Lake Tanganyika, and finally Lake Malawi.
The correct spatial ordering from north to south follows the latitudinal positions: Lake Turkana is the northernmost (approx. 4°30' N to 2°30' N), followed by Lake Albert in the Albertine Rift (approx. 2°20' N to 1°10' N), then Lake Tanganyika south of the equator (approx. 3°20' S to 8°48' S), and Lake Malawi as the southern terminus (approx. 9°30' S to 14°25' S).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the northernmost lake among the listed rift valley lakes.
Lake Turkana sits in northern Kenya, reaching up to 4°30' N latitude.
It is positioned highest in the Northern Hemisphere among all major East African Rift lakes.
2
Determine the position of Lake Albert relative to Lake Turkana and the Equator.
Lake Albert is located in the northern arm of the Western Rift between 1°10' N and 2°20' N.
It lies south of Lake Turkana but remains entirely in the Northern Hemisphere north of Lake Tanganyika.
3
Locate Lake Tanganyika along the latitudinal gradient.
Lake Tanganyika spans across the Southern Hemisphere from 3°20' S to 8°48' S.
It occupies the central section of the Western Rift Valley, south of Lake Albert and the Equator.
4
Identify the southernmost lake in the East African Rift System sequence.
Lake Malawi (Nyasa) lies between 9°30' S and 14°25' S latitude.
It forms the southern extremity of the Great Rift Valley lake system.

Key Concept

Latitudinal Distribution of East African Rift Valley Lakes
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Drainage Systems: Major Rivers and Lakes of Africa

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