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How do the depths of Lake Nyasa and Lake Tanganyika compare?
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East African lakes
Mountains and lakes of East Africa.
Both Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa are significant bodies of water within the East African rift systems, but they differ substantially in their maximum depths.
- Lake Tanganyika: This lake is the second deepest in the world, surpassed only by Lake Baikal in Siberia. It reaches a maximum depth of 4,710 feet (1,435 meters).12
- Lake Nyasa: While it shares similar geological characteristics with Lake Tanganyika, it is less extreme in its dimensions. Its depth reaches a maximum of 2,310 feet (704 meters) toward its northern end.13
In summary, Lake Tanganyika is significantly deeper than Lake Nyasa, with a maximum depth more than double that of the latter.