Lake Kiwu and its Islands 
87 
whom Livingstone came in contact at Udjidji. But these reports 
led to extremely dim conceptions of the lake, and it was reserved 
for Count 'Gotzen to gain the first accurate knowledge of its 
proportions and character. The count visited it on his journey 
across Africa in the year 1894, and navigated its northern end 
as far as Mugarura Island. Dr. Richard Kandt explored the 
lake more thoroughly in the years 1898-1901, and Kandt’s topo¬ 
graphical survey was finally completed by the German Congo 
Boundary Commission. Ample data concerning Kiwu are to be 
found in “ Statements from the German Protectorates, 1904,” 
from the pen of Captain a. D. Herrmann and in Kandt’s “ Caput 
Nili.” Only the most essential facts concerning it need, there¬ 
fore, be given here. 
According to Weiss’s estimate the lake lies at a level of 
1,500 metres above the sea, high up at the end of the Central 
African rift-valley. It is loi kilometres in length and 50 kilo¬ 
metres broad. The shores are extraordinarily cleft and rifted, 
so that often, especially on the eastern side, they are strongly 
reminiscent of northern fjords. The lake itself is framed in 
by innumerable mountain crests and summits which rise to 2,800 
metres and form ridges. Those in closest proximity are bare, 
either steppe or arable land. Somewhat farther away glorious 
and stately forests take their place. In addition to its rugged 
shores this lake is characterised by its wealth of large and small 
islands. The shores are only sparsely covered with sedge grass 
and rushes, and are mostly shingly and incrustated with lime. 
These incrustations, which point to a higher sea-level in former 
years,* sometimes gleam out white from amongst the greenery 
of the wooded island banks. Another characteristic of Kiwu is 
the hot springs which are found on the north-eastern shore on 
the peninsula of Irungatscho. Their temperature, according to 
Kirschstein’s measurements, rises to 72 degrees (Celsius). They 
apparently form an attraction for fish, for in their vicinity the 
primitive nets and baskets of the natives are often met with. 
* Kirschstein discovered that these formations rise as high as eight metres above 
the present surface level of the lake. 
