Lake Kivu, Rwanda

         Lake Kivu is one of the known African Great Lakes. The lake is located on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. It is a part of Africa's Great Rift Valley. The Lake is located in the western part of Rwanda and is surrounded by many magnificent mountains. Lake Kivu is Rwanda's largest lake and the sixth-largest in Africa.  Lake Kivu is one of the three lakes known to erupt, along with the Cameroonian Lake Nyos and Lake Monon, that violent experience has caused the formation of Lake Kivu. The gaseous chemical composition is unique to each lake; Methane in the case of Lake Kivu.

       The lake has the deepest freshwater in Africa. Its depth reaches 240m (787ft) with a maximum length of 89 km. Its width reaches 84 km. The lake's surface area is 2,700 km. Its water volume is 500 km³ (120 c mi). The Lake stands at 1,040m in height above sea level. As mentioned before, the lake is located upon Rift Valley which is being slowly being pulled apart the thin that makes it deep with a maximum depth of 480m and causing some volcanic activity in the area.

      Indigenous fish species include Barbus, catfish, and Haplochromis, as well as Nile tilapia. Limnothrissa modern, one of the two species known as Tanganyika sardines, was introduced in 1959 and formed the basis for a new marine fisheries area. In the early 1990s, the number of fishermen in the lake had 6,563 fishermen, of which 3,027 fishermen were associated with marine fisheries and 3,536 fishermen with traditional fisheries. The spread of armed conflicts in the surrounding area from the mid-1990s resulted in a decline in the fishing field.

   German Count "Adolf Von Gotzen" is the first who visited Lake Kivu in 1894.  Since that time, the lake has been of historical importance for being included in the conflict between Hutu and Tutsi people in Rwanda, and their allies in DR Congo. This whole thing resulted in the famous 'Rwandan Genocide' in 1994. Additionally, it has resulted in the first and second Congo wars. Lake Kivu gained notoriety as a place where many of the victims of the genocide were dumped.  

       Approximately 55 billion cubic meters ( 72 billion cubic yards) of dissolved methane gas has been found in Lake Kivu. The gas was found at a depth of 300 meters which is around 1,000 feet. Until 2004, the extraction of the gas was done on a small scale. The extracted gas of methane is used now to run boilers at a brewery, the Bralirwa in Gisenyi. Going on a large scale, the Rwandan government negotiating the matter of producing methane gas from the lake with a number of parties and investors to make use of the huge amount of this gas found in the lake. 

    As a result, ContourGlobal, A UK-based company has adopted financing the project to produce methane gas from the lake on a rage scale. The project started in 2019 and the first phase produced in 2020. It is expected to be fully operated in 2021.  

      Though Rwanda is just two degrees below the equator in the heart of Africa, the country enjoys a temperate climate because of its higher altitude. Being on the western side of the country, Lake Kivu is at its best if you visit it during the dry season. Daytime temperature reaches 26C (18F) degrees during the time between August and October which are the warmest months. On the other hand, the nighttime temperature falls to 15-16C (59F).  

     June and July are the driest months in Rwanda; as a result, they are the best months to visit Lake Kivu for relaxing and enjoying the tranquility of the area with the temperature a bit cooler than the above. Traveling during the dry season will provide you the opportunity to enjoy sunbathing and swimming in the lake. The dry season is also the best time to visit Lake Kivu as it is the time of the year that experience fewer insects.

1- The shores of Lake Kivu are full of resorts, five -stars hotels, backpackers, and family-friendly hotels applicable to all kinds of budgets.  

2- Lake Kivu is also surrounded by beautiful beaches and peninsular as well such as:

-Rubavu which is a large town on the northern edge of Lake Kivu and it is an hour from Volcanoes National park by car. Its waterfront is dotted with fading old mansion, hotels, and bars from the colonial era that is perfect for sundowner cocktails.  

- Karongi, is a popular beach resort located halfway the lake that is famous for its hillsides covered in pines and eucalyptus.  

3- The lake is also surrounded by beautiful such as Idjwi, Goma (Congo), Bukavu (Congo) forming an archipelago. The world's tenth-largest inland island lies in Lake Kivu.  

4- There are three main towns along the lakeshore - Cyangugu in the south, Kibuye in the middle, and Gisenyi further north.

5- Lake Kivu attracts Rwandan Visitors and Holidaymakers which has resulted that the level of accommodation there is a better standard than in the parks. The View of the hotels there is very lovely.

6- Wet seasons in Lake Kivu marks the low tourism months. The thing that might give you the opportunity to get room discounts in various accommodations there.

7- Visitors usually do Lake Kivu and enjoy the tranquility and the relaxing vibes of this place before combining it with Gorilla trekking and hiking at Volcanoes National Park.