Lake Mutanda | |
---|---|
Location | Kisoro District, Uganda |
Coordinates | 01°14′06″S29°40′12″E / 1.23500°S 29.67000°E |
Basin countries | Uganda |
Surface area | 29 km2 (11 sq mi) [1] |
Max. depth | 56 m (184 ft) [1] |
Surface elevation | 1,792 m (5,879 ft) [1] |
Settlements | Kisoro, Uganda |
Website | lakemutanda |
Lake Mutanda is a small freshwater lake in Uganda.
The lake is located in Kisoro District in southwestern Uganda, approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of the town of Kisoro, where the district headquarters are located. [2] This location is approximately 454 kilometres (282 mi), by road, southwest of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. [3] The coordinates of Lake Mutanda are:01 14 06S, 29 40 12E (Latitude:-1.2350; Longitude:29.6700).
It is nestled in the foothills of the Virunga Mountain Range, at an altitude of 1,800 metres (5,900 ft). The three volcanoes within the range, that are partly located in Uganda, namely: Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabinyo and Mount Gahinga, can be viewed from Lake Mutanda. There are several islands in the lake. The lake is drained by the Rutshuru River, which flows northward to Lake Edward.
The environment on the islands within the lake and the surrounding countryside includes lakeside forests and wetland habitats that provide a haven for the endangered mountain gorilla.
In addition to the mountain gorilla and golden monkey in the nearby Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the lakeside environment accommodates a variety of animal and plant species, unique to this area. Bird species include kingfisher birds, kites, ibis and Uganda's national bird, the crested crane. Weaver bird nests are a common site among the reeds along the lake shore.
In addition to the abundant and varied avian species, the lake shore supports several species of snake, chameleon, monitor lizard and frog species. There is a varied and abundant supply of insect life as well. The mammals found in Lake Mutanda include the African clawless otter. Hippopotamus was also present in the area, but were last sighted at Lake Mutanda in 1994. [4]
The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a national park in southwestern Uganda. It is part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and is situated along the Democratic Republic of the Congo border next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the Albertine Rift. Composed of 321 km2 (124 sq mi) of both montane and lowland forest, it is accessible only on foot. It is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization-designated World Heritage Site.
Mukono is one of the districts in the Central Region of Uganda. The town of Mukono serves as the district headquarters and is home to the district's main commercial center.
Kisoro District is a district in the Western Region of Uganda. The town of Kisoro is the site of the district headquarters.
Kisoro is a town in the Western Region of Uganda. It is the chief town of Kisoro District and the site of the district headquarters.
Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP) is a national park in Uganda managed by the Ugandan Wildlife Authority. Located in north-western Uganda, it spreads inland from the shores of Lake Albert, around the Victoria Nile, up to the Karuma Falls.
Lake Bunyonyi is in south-western Uganda between Kisoro and Kabale, close to the border with Rwanda. The lake appeared from 2004 to 2009 on the USh 5,000/= note under the title "Lake Bunyonyi and terraces". Scientific literature generally quotes a maximum depth of 40 m (130 ft), but some tourist guides and locals insist that it is much deeper, about 900 m (3,000 ft), which would make it the second-deepest lake in Africa.
Kigezi District once covered what are now Kabale District, Kanungu District, Kisoro District and Rukungiri District, in southwest Uganda. Its terraced fields are what gives this part of Uganda its distinctive character. Kigezi was popularly known as the Switzerland of Africa. The coordinates for the region are: Latitude:01 13 20S, 29 53 20E.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a national park in southwestern Uganda. It was created in 1991 and covers an area of 33.9 km2 (13.1 sq mi).
Tourism in Uganda is focused on Uganda's landscape and wildlife. It is a major driver of employment, investment and foreign exchange, contributing USh 4.9 trillion to Uganda's GDP in the financial year 2012–2013.
Lake Wamala is a freshwater lake in Uganda. Its wetlands contain endangered species of birds and animals including the sitatunga. The lake is of traditional and cultural significance to the people of Buganda in Central Uganda.
Kisoro Airport is an airport serving the town of Kisoro in Uganda and nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It is in extreme southwestern Uganda, 6 kilometres (4 mi) north of the Rwanda border, and approximately 343 kilometres (213 mi) by air southwest of Entebbe International Airport, the country's largest civilian and military airport. It is one of twelve upcountry airports administered by the Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda.
Bunagana is a town in the Western Region of Uganda. It sits across the international border from the similarly named town of Bunagana, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
King Ceasor University is a private university previously known as St. Augustine International University.
Wanseko, is a settlement in Western Uganda.
Kyanika is a settlement in Kisoro District in the Western Region of Uganda.
Rubanda District is a district in the Western Region of Uganda. The largest town in the district, Rubanda, serves as the main administrative and commercial center in the district.
The Kabale–Lake Bunyonyi Road in Uganda connects the town of Kabale to Lake Bunyonyi, reported to be the second-deepest lake in the world.
The Katuna–Muko Road in the Western Region of Uganda connects the towns of Katuna and Muko, both in Kabale District.
Busengo is a settlement in the Western Region of Uganda. It is one of the urban centers in Kisoro District. The town lies across the international border from Busengo, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Lake Mulehe is a crater lake situated in the Kisoro District of southwestern Uganda, close to the border with Rwanda. This lake is a part of the Albertine Rift, which is well known for its biological diversity and visually striking landscapes.