Which is the largest lake by area in Africa?

• A. Lake Tanganyika
• B. Lake Malawi
• C. Lake Chad
• D. Lake Victoria

Answer: (D)

When a question asks for the largest lake by area, the main idea is to compare surface areas—the amount of water the lake covers on the surface, not how deep it is or how much water it holds overall. Lake Victoria has the largest surface area among the African lakes listed, about 68,800 square kilometers. That size is more than double the area of Lake Tanganyika (roughly 32,000 km²) and clearly larger than Lake Malawi (around 29,000 km²). Lake Chad is much smaller, typically about 1,000 to 1,500 km² depending on the year and measurements. So, in terms of surface area, Lake Victoria is the largest in Africa. It sits in East Africa and borders several countries, and it's also commonly noted as a source region for the White Nile.