African RIvers, greeks, japanese authors

lake Tanganyika

Africa's second-largest lake by area, it is also the second-deepest in the world, surpassed only by Lake Baikal. Due to its extreme depth (over 4,700 feet), Lake ___ contains seven times as much water as Lake Victoria. A source of the Lualaba River, it is shared by Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Zambia. On its Tanzanian shore is the town of Ujiji, where Henry Morton Stanley "found" Dr. David Livingstone in 1871.

Lake Volta

The largest man-made lake (by area) in the world, Lake Volta was created by the construction of Ghana's Akosombo Dam across the Volta River in the 1960s. It covers the area where the Black Volta and White Volta rivers once converged. The Akosombo Dam can provide over a gigawatt of power, supplying nearby aluminum smelters that use the Hall-Héroult process as well as much of the country.

Lake Malawi (or Lake Nyasa)

Africa's third-largest lake by area and the southernmost of the Great Rift Valley lakes, located between Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique. Fed by the Ruhuhu River, its only outlet is the Shire River, a tributary of the Zambezi. Lake ___ is known for its hundreds of endemic fish species, especially cichlids.

Lake Chad

Formerly Africa's fourth-largest lake, its area has shrunk by over 90% since the 1960s due to droughts and water diversion from sources such as the Chari River. It lies at the intersection of Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria, though most remaining water is in Chad and Cameroon. Lake___ is shallow with no outlet, causing its area to fluctuate widely with seasonal rainfall.

Lake Victoria

Africa's largest and the world's second-largest freshwater lake by area, located along the Equator and shared by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Its only outlet is the Victoria Nile, a source of the White Nile. Named by John Hanning Speke after Queen Victoria, the lake has suffered ecological damage since the introduction of the predatory Nile perch in the 1950s, which caused many native cichlid species to go extinct.

Nile River

Often cited as the world's longest river, flowing about 4,132 miles south-to-north from Burundi to Egypt's Mediterranean coast, where it forms a large delta. Over 80% of its water comes from the Blue Nile, which rises in Lake Tana, Ethiopia, and meets the White Nile at Khartoum. The Aswan High Dam at the first cataract forms Lake Nasser and controls flooding.

Congo River

Africa's second-longest river, flowing about 2,900 miles in a counterclockwise arc to the Atlantic Ocean. Its main sources include the Lualaba and Zambia's Chambeshi River. Boyoma Falls marks the start of the main Congo River. It forms the Malebo Pool between Kinshasa and Brazzaville before flowing past the Cabinda exclave into the ocean. The Congo basin’s colonial exploitation was famously depicted in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

Zambezi River

Rising in eastern Angola, the Zambezi flows through Zambia, along Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, into Mozambique, and empties into the Indian Ocean. Major dams include Cabora Bassa and Kariba. Its most famous feature is Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya), over a mile wide and the largest waterfall in Africa by flow rate.

Niger River

Africa's third-longest river, flowing in a clockwise arc through Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria before entering the Gulf of Guinea. It supported the Mali and Songhai Empires and was mapped by Mungo Park in the 1790s. Its main tributary is the Benue River. The Niger Delta is known for biodiversity, petroleum, and significant regional unrest.

Limpopo River

Rising as the Crocodile River in South Africa’s Witwatersrand, it forms borders with Botswana and Zimbabwe before flowing through Mozambique. Severe flooding in 2000 was worsened by deforestation. Rudyard Kipling famously described it as "the great grey-green, greasy ___, all set about with fever-trees."

Okavango River

Flowing about 1,000 miles from central Angola through Namibia’s Caprivi Strip into Botswana, where it ends in the Okavango Delta — a massive inland swamp rich with wildlife. The delta expands seasonally in the otherwise arid Kalahari Desert.

Lake Tanganyika

Africa's second-largest lake by area and the second-deepest in the world; holds seven times more water than Lake Victoria. Source of the Lualaba River; shared by Tanzania, DRC, Burundi, and Zambia. Stanley met Livingstone at Ujiji on its shore.

Lake Volta

World's largest man-made lake by area, created by Ghana's Akosombo Dam in the 1960s. Formed where the Black and White Volta met. The dam provides over a gigawatt of power for smelters and the country.

Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa)

Africa's third-largest lake by area; southernmost Great Rift Valley lake. Between Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique. Fed by the Ruhuhu River; outlet is the Shire River. Known for endemic cichlid species.

Lake Chad

Once Africa's fourth-largest lake; shrunk over 90% since the 1960s due to drought and water diversion. Borders Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria. Very shallow and fluctuates seasonally with rainfall.

Lake Victoria

Africa's largest lake and the world's second-largest freshwater lake by area. Shared by Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania; source of the Victoria Nile. Named by Speke. Introduction of Nile perch caused major ecological damage.

Nile River

Usually considered the world's longest river (4,132 miles). Flows south-to-north from Burundi to Egypt. Blue Nile (from Lake Tana) provides most of the water; merges with White Nile at Khartoum. Aswan High Dam forms Lake Nasser.

Congo River

Africa's second-longest river (2,900 miles). Sources: Lualaba and Chambeshi. Boyoma Falls marks the start of the "Congo River proper." Flows past Kinshasa and Brazzaville and enters the Atlantic. Setting of Heart of Darkness.

Zambezi River

Rises in Angola; flows through Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. Forms Cabora Bassa and Kariba lakes. Home to Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya), Africa's largest waterfall by flow rate.

Niger River

Africa's third-longest river; flows in a clockwise arc through Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria. Important to Mali and Songhai empires. Receives the Benue River. Massive Niger Delta known for oil, wildlife, and unrest.

Limpopo River

Begins as the Crocodile River in South Africa. Forms borders with Botswana, Zimbabwe; crosses Mozambique. Known for major flooding events. Called “the great grey-green, greasy Limpopo River” in Kipling.

Okavango River

Flows from Angola through Namibia’s Caprivi Strip into Botswana. Empties into the Okavango Delta, a vast inland swamp full of wildlife.

Idmon

Son of Cyrene and Apollo; a seer; sailed with Jason on the Argo.

Diomedes

Son of Cyrene and Ares; king of Thrace.

Oeagrus

Thracian king; father of Orpheus.

Calliope

Muse of epic poetry; mother of Orpheus.

Dionysian mysteries

Spiritual festivals honoring Dionysus; Orpheus helped organize them.

Eurydice

Daughter of Apollo; wife of Orpheus.

Aristaios

Minor god (son of Cyrene) who pursued Eurydice; she died fleeing him after a snakebite.

Maenads

Frenzied followers of Dionysus who killed Orpheus.

Alcides / Alcasaeus / Heracles

Alternate names for Hercules.

Amphitryon / Sthenelus

Descendants of Perseus from Tiryns.

Alcmene

Wife of Amphitryon; daughter of Electryon.

Electryon

Father of Alcmene; accidentally killed by Amphitryon.

Thebes

City where Amphitryon and Alcmene settled.

Taphos

Island Amphitryon was sent to destroy to avenge Alcmene’s brothers.

Alcmene

Lover of Zeus; mother of Iphicles and Heracles.

Eileithyia

Goddess of childbirth.

Linus

Music teacher of Hercules (and half-brother of Orpheus); killed by Hercules.

Minyans

Tribe led by Erginus at war with Thebes; demanded cattle tribute Hercules raised.

Megara

Daughter of Creon; wife of Hercules.

Eurystheus

High king of Mycenae; cousin who assigned Hercules his labors.

Iolaus

Nephew of Hercules; stopped his madness; helped with the Hydra and other labors.

Nemean Lion

Hercules’ 1st labor: kill the lion.

Hydra

Hercules’ 2nd labor: kill the Hydra; didn’t count because Iolaus helped.

Lerna

Swamp where the Hydra lived.

Erymanthian boar

3rd labor: capture it alive by driving it into deep snow.

Pholus

Centaur who helped Hercules with the boar; died from Hercules’ poisoned arrow.

Ceryneian Hind

4th labor: capture Artemis’ sacred doe.

Stymphalian birds

5th labor: drive out razor-feathered birds.

Augeas

King whose stables Hercules cleaned (6th labor).

Cretan Bull

7th labor: capture Minos’ sacred bull.

Diomedes (Thrace)

King with man-eating horses; Hercules got the horses (8th labor) by killing him.

Hercules

Founded Olympic Games; helped gods defeat giants.

Amazons

Hercules’ 9th labor: retrieve their queen’s belt.

Belt of Hippolyta

Amazon queen’s belt; she died when Hera interfered.

Antaeus

Giant son of Gaea and Poseidon; killed by Hercules.

Cattle of Geryon

Hercules’ 10th labor: steal Geryon’s red cattle.

Eurytion

Herder of Geryon’s cattle; owner of Orthus.

Geryon

Three-bodied king of Iberia; killed by Hercules.

Cacus

Fire-breathing giant killed by Hercules; lived near future Rome.

Prometheus

Hercules freed him; he advised Hercules about the golden apples.

Garden of the Hesperides

Home of Hera’s golden apples.

Ladon

Dragon guarding the golden apple tree.

Cerberus

Final labor: capture the three-headed dog.

Persephone

Convinced Hades to let Hercules take Cerberus.

Theseus

Rescued by Hercules from the underworld.

Erebos

Another name for the underworld.

Eleusis

Location of Hades’ temple visited by Hercules.

Oechalia

City Hercules settled after his quests.

Eurytius

King who held the archery contest for his daughter Iole.

Iphitus

Son of Eurytius; killed by Hercules.

Omphale

Queen of Lydia; Hercules served her as a slave.

Kerkopes

Mischievous dwarf twins captured and freed by Hercules; later robbed him.

Deianeira

Daughter of Oeneus; second wife of Hercules.

Achelous

River god of Kalydon; suitor of Deianeira; his horn became the Cornucopia.

Trachis

City where Hercules and Deianeira fled after Hercules killed a servant.

Nessus

Centaur who kidnapped Deianeira; killed by Hercules; tricked her into poisoning him.

Hebe

Goddess of youth; Hercules’ wife after he became a god.

Athamas

King of Boeotia.

Nephele

Cloud nymph; first wife of Athamas.

Helle and Phrixus

Children of Athamas and Nephele.

Ino

Second wife of Athamas; tried to kill Helle and Phrixus.

Chrysomallos

Winged ram with golden fleece; rescued Helle and Phrixus; became the constellation Aries.

Hellespont

Site where Helle fell from the ram.

Colchis

Where the ram delivered Phrixus.

Aeetes

King of Colchis who received Phrixus.

Cretheus

King of Iolcus.

Tyro

Niece raised by Cretheus; had sons with Poseidon including Pelias.

Pelias

Son of Tyro; usurped Iolcus by killing his half-brothers.

Aeson

Rightful heir of Iolcus; father of Jason.

Polymede

Wife of Aeson; mother of Jason.

Pelias

Usurper who sent Jason for the Golden Fleece to get him killed.

Chiron

Centaur who trained Jason.

One shoe

Prophecy sign identifying the man destined to overthrow Pelias; Jason fit it.

Hera

Goddess who aided Jason.

Sports contest

The event where Jason became famous in Iolcus.

Colchis

Land of the Golden Fleece.

Hercules, Atalanta, Orpheus

Other major heroes who joined the Argonauts.

Argus

Built the Argo with Athena’s help.