Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley

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Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley: A Biodiverse Treasure Trove

The Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley is a captivating natural wonder located in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. This UNESCO World Heritage Site spans over 32,034 hectares, encompassing three interconnected, relatively shallow lakes: Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Elementaita.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley , a natural property of outstanding beauty, comprises three inter-linked relatively shallow lakes (Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru and Lake Elementaita) in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya and covers a total area of 32,034 hectares. The property is home to 13 globally threatened bird species and some of the highest bird diversities in the world. It is the single most important foraging site for the lesser flamingo anywhere, and a major nesting and breeding ground for great white pelicans. The property features sizeable mammal populations, including black rhino, Rothschild's giraffe, greater kudu, lion, cheetah and wild dogs and is valuable for the study of ecological processes of major importance.

Encyclopedia Record: Great Rift Valley, Kenya

The Great Rift Valley is part of an intra-continental system of topographic depressions that runs through Kenya from north to south. It is part of the Gregory Rift, the eastern branch of the East African Rift, which starts in Tanzania to the south and continues northward into Ethiopia. It was formed on the "Kenyan Dome", a geographical upwelling created by the interactions of three major tectonic plates: the Arabian, Nubian, and Somali plates. In the past, it was seen as part of a "Great Rift Valley" that runs from Mozambique to Syria. Most of the valley falls within the former Rift Valley Province.

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