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Difficulty: MediumDrainage Systems: Major Rivers and Lakes of Africa

Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika are two of the largest lakes in Africa, yet they differ significantly in their geomorphological origins and bathymetric characteristics. Which of the following statements correctly distinguishes Lake Victoria from Lake Tanganyika?

  1. Lake Victoria occupies a broad, downwarped crustal basin between the east and west rift valleys, whereas Lake Tanganyika is a deep rift valley lake formed within a faulted graben.Answer
  2. B
    Lake Victoria is an endorheic lake with no ocean outlet, whereas Lake Tanganyika flows directly northwards into the Mediterranean Sea.
  3. C
    Lake Victoria was formed by lava damming of a major river course, whereas Lake Tanganyika originated as a remnant of an ancient marine inlet.
  4. D
    Lake Victoria is bounded by steep, vertical fault escarpments, whereas Lake Tanganyika occupies a gentle, shallow depression in the plateau.

Answer

Lake Victoria occupies a broad, downwarped crustal basin between the east and west rift valleys, whereas Lake Tanganyika is a deep rift valley lake formed within a faulted graben.
Lake Victoria was created by gentle downwarping of the central plateau surface between the two branches of the Great Rift Valley, giving it a large surface area but shallow depth. Lake Tanganyika formed in a deep fault trough (graben) of the Western Rift Valley, making it the longest and second deepest lake in Africa.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the formation mechanism of Lake Victoria.
Lake Victoria sits in a shallow depression formed by gentle earth movements (downwarping) between the Western and Eastern Rift Valleys.
Understanding crustal warping explains why Lake Victoria is relatively shallow despite its vast surface area.
2
Analyze the formation mechanism of Lake Tanganyika.
Lake Tanganyika is a tectonic rift lake situated in a deep block-faulted trough (graben).
Rift valley lakes are characterized by great depth, steep sides, and narrow linear shapes.
3
Compare the structural differences to evaluate the options.
The statement identifying Lake Victoria as downwarped and Lake Tanganyika as a faulted graben rift lake correctly differentiates the two.
This captures the fundamental geomorphological classification of African lakes.

Key Concept

Geomorphological Classification of African Lakes (Rift Valley Lakes vs. Crustal Basin Lakes)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Drainage Systems: Major Rivers and Lakes of Africa

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