Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is a Rift Valley lake with beach resorts along its eastern Rwanda ashore at Kibuye and Gisenyi. These are connected by boat with Cyangugu. Gisenyi and Cyangugu both have corresponding ports across the DR Congo border at Goma and Bukavu.

German Count Adolf von Götzen was the first European visitor in 1894. In more recent times, the lake region has seen tragic conflict between Hutu and Tutsi people of Rwanda, and their allies in DR Congo, leading to the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the First and Second Congo Wars.

Lake Kivu is one of three exploding lakes in Africa, subject to violent lake overturns caused by huge quantities of methane gas deep within the lake. In the worst case, methane is ignited by underlying volcanic activity to release large quantities of carbon dioxide also present in the water and suffocate every living being in the area. Deaths attributed to invisible pockets of carbon dioxide rising from vents along the shoreline, known as mazukus, or evil winds, are frequently reported, especially on the Congo side.

A pilot project at Kibuye has started the process of extracting the methane as an energy source. This is planned to cover all Rwanda's electricity generation for decades to come. It will also combat the threat of catastrophe.