View source for Lake Rweru

{{Short description|Body of water shared by Burundi and Rwanda}}
{{Infobox lake
| name = Lake Rweru
| image =
| caption =
| image_bathymetry =
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| location = Burundi
| coords = {{coord|2|22|40|S|30|19|25|E|type:waterbody_region:BI_source:nlwiki|display=inline,title}}
| type = Lake
| inflow =
| outflow = [[Kagera River]]
| catchment =
| basin_countries = Burundi, Rwanda
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|100|km2|sqmi|-1|abbr=on}}
| depth = {{convert|2.1|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}}
| max-depth =  {{convert|3.9|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}}
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =  {{convert|76|km|miles|-1|abbr=on}}
| elevation =  {{convert|1325|m|-1|abbr=on}}
| islands =
| cities =
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| pushpin_map             = Rwanda
| pushpin_label_position  =
| pushpin_map_alt         = Location of the lake in Burundi and Rwanda.
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}}
'''Lake Rweru''' is a lake close to the northernmost point of [[Burundi]] in central Africa. The northern shore of the lake forms part of Burundi's border with [[Rwanda]]. It is the most distant origin point of the [[Nile River]]. The [[Kagera River]], considered by many as the start point of the Nile, rises at the northern part of the lake, located in [[Rwanda]].
== Geography ==
The lake has a surface area of {{convert|100|km2|-1|abbr=on}} between two countries, [[Burundi]] ({{convert|80|km2|-1|abbr=on}}) and [[Rwanda]] ({{convert|20|km2|-1|abbr=on}}). The lake has a shoreline of approximately 76 km. The lake is very shallow in most parts and has a mean depth of 2.1 m with its maximum depth at 3 m located in Burundi. The [[Kagera River]] flows out of the lake in Burundi and flows east along Rwanda's border until it joins the [[Ruvubu River]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fortuneofafrica.com/rwanda/lake-rweru/|title=Lake Rweru - Fortune of Africa Rwanda|website=fortuneofafrica.com|access-date=2017-03-05|archive-date=2017-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309153719/http://fortuneofafrica.com/rwanda/lake-rweru/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Controversy ==
In August 2014 fishermen in [[Burundi]] living around the lake in the [[Muyinga Province]] recovered over 40 unidentified bodies floating in the lake. Most of the bodies were wrapped in plastic. The bodies recovered were in the advance stages of decomposition, alarming the local villagers due to health concerns.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28940020|title=Burundi investigates 'Rwandan bodies' in Lake Rweru|date=2014-08-26|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-10-14}}</ref> Burundi claims that all the bodies recovered were [[Rwanda|Rwandan]] by nationality and there are no credible conclusions to how the bodies were killed. Both countries deny that the bodies are their citizens.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-burundi-bodies-rwanda-idUSKCN0I31XB20141014|title=Burundi says 40 corpses found in lake were Rwandans|date=2016-10-14|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=2016-10-14}}</ref> The [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] from the [[United States]] agreed to take the case after both countries showed lack of interest to look into the matter.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Lake-Rweru-floating-bodies/1066-2482026-55d4f/index.html|title=Mystery over bodies found in Lake Rweru|newspaper=Daily Nation|language=en-UK|access-date=2016-10-14}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[Kagera River]]
*[https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=Lake%20Rweru Lake Photos]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Attached KML}}
[[Category:Lakes of Rwanda|Rweru]]
[[Category:Burundi–Rwanda border]]
[[Category:International lakes of Africa|Rweru]]
[[Category:Lakes of Kirundo Province|Rweru]]