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WEATHER
Geography and Climate
Location:
Uganda lies between the two arms of the Great Rift
Valley in East Africa. It is crossed by the equator. It
lies between latitudes 4 degrees 12" north and 1 degree
29" south and longitudes 29 degrees 5" and 25" east. It
is roughly the same in size to Great Britain, Ghana or
the state of Oregon in the United States of America. It
is bordered by Kenya to the East, Sudan to the North,
DRC to the West and Tanzania and Rwanda to the south.
Area:
241,139 sq. km of which 42.000 (17%) sq km is made up of
swamps and open fresh water bodies. 30,000 sq km (12%)
forest reserves and game parks.
Terrain:
Uganda lies in the Great African Plateau with an average
altitude of 1200m (4000ft) above sea level broken by the
Great Rift Valley to the Western Side. Elevated areas
are the Rwenzori mountains (5000m) with permanent snow
cover and Mount Elgon (4300m).
The Nile, the world's second longest river starts its
journey from the world's second largest fresh water
body, Lake Victoria at Jinja.
Climate:
Uganda's climate is equatorial but its elevated altitude
affects it. The average annual temperature is 26 degrees
Centigrade over much of the country though 5 degrees
Centigrade in South Western and 35 degrees Centigrade in
the North and North East can be recorded. Average annual
rainfall is 1000mm in most parts of the country, 500mm
in North East and 2000mm in Ssese Islands. Most of
Uganda is green all year round.
Lakes and Rivers:
Uganda has been called a land of lakes because almost a
third of the country is covered by water. Lake Victoria,
the largest in Africa, dominates the southern border of
the country while Lakes Edward and Albert lie to the
west.
Linked to Lake Edward is the Kazinga Channel, Lake Mburo,
230 km to the west of Kampala, is the only lake entirely
within a National Park. In the center of Uganda, Lakes
Kwania and Kyoga are fed by the waters of the River
Nile.
Other lakes include Lake Bunyonyi near Kabale and Lake
Bisina in the shadow of Mt. Elgon, as well as tiny
crater lakes high in the mountains. Uganda's fresh water
lakes offer opportunities for water activities and
sports. An example is white water rafting, pioneered by
Adrift, which has caught on as a popular tourist
activity, especially on the River Nile. The country now
attracts 500 rafters every month. Lake Victoria is now
also being increasingly used for lake cruises. Other
popular activities include sport fishing and sailing.
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