Which lake was renamed Lake Victoria in 1858 after Britain’s Queen Victoria?

Lake Victoria was renamed in 1858 after Britain’s Queen Victoria.

The British explorer John Hanning Speke named the lake Victoria after seeing it during his 1858 expedition. He identified it as the principal source of the White Nile, although the Nile’s complex drainage system and the exact source of its waters later became subjects of extensive exploration and debate.

Lake Victoria lies between Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. It is Africa’s largest lake by surface area and the world’s largest tropical lake. Its shallow basin and broad open surface distinguish it from the much deeper lakes of the East African Rift Valley.

The lake is also known by local names, including Victoria Nyanza. The name Lake Victoria is the standard English name, while its shores support major cities, fishing communities and important transport routes.