| Lake Nyamusingire | |
|---|---|
| Location | Rubirizi District, Uganda |
| Type | Crater lake |
| Basin countries | Uganda |
| Surface area | 3.84 kilometres (2.39 mi) [1] |
| Average depth | 3 metres (9.8 ft) [1] |
| Surface elevation | c. 1,010 metres (3,310 ft) [2] |
Lake Nyamusingire, also known as Lake Nyamisigeri, is a crater lake in Western Uganda, Rubirizi District. The lake is endowed with flora and fauna that act as tourist attractions. [3] [4] [5]
Lake Nyamusingire lies in Rubirizi District in western Uganda, close to other crater-lake features in the Bunyaruguru area. [2] Some travel guides describe the lake as being near the localities of Chekoba and Nyakiyanja and within the Queen Elizabeth National Park area. [6]
Western Uganda contains numerous volcanic explosion craters, many of which filled with water to form crater lakes. [7] UWA describes Lake Nyamusingire as a site formed by three connected crater lakes. [8]
Studies of greenhouse-gas fluxes from African inland waters describe Lake Nyamusingire as a small, shallow lake (about 3.84 km2, about 3 m deep) with a polymictic mixing regime and eutrophic conditions. [1] GeoNames lists the lake at an elevation of about 1,010 m above sea level. [2]
UWA notes Lake Nyamusingire as habitat for the African finfoot (Podica senegalensis). [8] The surrounding Maramagambo Forest supports forest birds and primates on guided walks that include the lake and nearby features such as the Bat Cave and the Blue Lake. [8]
A survey of crater lakes in western Uganda assessing freshwater snails linked to schistosomiasis surveillance included Lake Nyamusingire among sampled sites and reported a location and altitude for the lake in its site table. [9]
Tourism operators market the lake for nature walks around Maramagambo Forest, birdwatching, and non-motorised lake activities such as canoeing and kayaking, often paired with visits to the nearby Bat Cave and other crater-lake viewpoints. [6] The Uganda Hotel Owners Association’s hotel guide lists a lodge that overlooks Lake Nyamusingire in Rubirizi District. [10]
The lake sits within a protected landscape managed under the Queen Elizabeth National Park system, and UWA promotes guided access through Maramagambo Forest routes that include Lake Nyamusingire and nearby attractions. [8]
0°17′11″S30°01′48″E / 0.28639°S 30.03000°E