Standing at a height of 1,460 meters above sea level, Lake Kivu covers a total surface area of some 2,700 km2 (1,040 sq mi) Some 1 370 km2 . The lake lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and is in the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift but the largest part of the lake is in DRC taking 58% of it. The lake bed sits upon a rift valley that is slowly being pulled apart, causing volcanic activity in the area, and making it particularly deep. The lake is free from crocodiles and hippos and can therefore support swimming, fishing, birding and wild life watching all interesting to the travelers.
