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How do lake climates vary between low rift troughs and highland areas?
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East African lakes
Mountains and lakes of East Africa.
The climate of East African lakes varies significantly based on their elevation and geographic setting:
- Low Rift Troughs: Lakes situated in inland troughs at altitudes of approximately 2,000 feet (610 meters) or less experience a hot, dry climatic environment characterized by high potential evaporation.12
- Highland Areas: In the higher parts of the rift floors, climatic conditions shift to resemble those of the flanking highlands.12
- Regional Influences: The Western Rift is notably influenced by moist air from the Congo basin, which fosters more humid conditions over lakes such as Tanganyika and Kivu. In contrast, the highest elevations, such as the glacial tarns of Mount Kenya and the Ruwenzori Range, exist within a frigid zone.12
Additionally, large bodies of water like Lake Victoria can influence their own local climates, creating zones with moderate temperatures and well-distributed annual precipitation.1