A deep, beautiful rift lake that hides a dangerous secret in its depths.
Surface area
2,700 km²
Maximum depth
about 480 m
Elevation
1,460 m
Continent
Africa
Countries
Rwanda & DR Congo
Did you know?
Vast amounts of methane and carbon dioxide are dissolved in Kivu's deep water — a hazard, but now tapped to generate electricity.
Little-known fact
It is one of only a handful of lakes on Earth that can suffer a 'limnic eruption', a sudden deadly release of gas.
Highlights
- A deep, scenic rift lake
- Charged with explosive gases
- Its methane now makes power
Life in the Lake Kivu
The fish and animals, waterbirds and water plants — including some of the rarest — that this water supports.
Animals & fish
Hippopotamus
Africa’s river giant spends its days submerged and is, pound for pound, among the continent’s most dangerous animals.
Waterbirds
African fish eagle
The ringing call of this black-white-and-chestnut raptor is the iconic “voice of Africa” by the water.
Interactive · 3D dive
How deep does a lake go?
A lake is layered from the sunlit, weed-filled shallows down to a cold, dark bed. Tap a zone to dive the submersible through the water column — and meet the life that belongs at each depth.
Tip: hover the column to tilt it · tap a layer to dive
Littoral Zone
The warm, bright band close to shore where sunlight reaches the bottom. Reeds, water lilies and rooted plants grow thickly here, making it the busiest, most crowded part of the whole lake.
Who lives here