The huge lake in Africa that's one of the world's biggest and deadliest

is a stunning continent and has a lot of places that are worth visiting. One of them happens to be . And while you'd think it's the perfect place for a refreshing dip, think again, as swimming in the lake is only recommended in specific areas.

, which straddles Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, is largest lake by area and the world's second-largest freshwater lake after . Covering nearly 70,000 square kilometres, it's a vital resource for over 40 million people. But it also has a dark side that makes it one of the deadliest lakes in the world. According to , the lake sees around 5,000 deaths every year.

Many of these are caused by erratic weather and poor communication infrastructure, which makes boating and fishing hazardous.

But there's another threat lurking in its waters that's far less obvious: a tiny freshwater snail.

This snail carries a parasite that causes schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia. It's a disease that infects people who come into contact with contaminated freshwater.

Once inside the human body, the parasite can travel to the liver, lungs, intestines or bladder.

Symptoms can range from fever and rashes to long-term organ damage and even bladder cancer.

Children living near the lake are often the most vulnerable. In a study cited by , more than 25% of schoolchildren tested in Mwanza, Tanzania, were infected with the parasite.

The World Health Organisation estimates that around 200 million people globally are affected by schistosomiasis, with nearly 800 million at risk.

Pollution is also a growing threat, accoridng to . An investigation led by journalists from Nation Media Group and scientists from the University of Nairobi found that Lake Victoria is being poisoned from multiple sources.

Their findings, published in reports like "Rotting from the Deep" and "Toxic Dump: The Poisons Killing Lake Victoria", exposed shocking levels of contamination.

Tests showed dangerously high levels of heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium in the water and fish.

Industrial waste, raw sewage, and banned pesticides such as DDT were found flowing into the lake from rivers, factories, and even prisons.

According to the investigation, some fish were found to contain unsafe levels of mercury and lead, making them unfit for human consumption. In some areas, 92% of water samples were contaminated with harmful bacteria.

The impact on biodiversity has been devastating. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) warned in 2018 that 86 out of 234 native fish species in Lake Victoria are now threatened, largely due to pollution and invasive species.

Efforts to tackle the issue are ongoing. Following the exposé, several Kenyan factories were shut down, and more were placed on a government watch list.

The World Health Organization is also pushing for the elimination of schistosomiasis in all endemic countries.

While safe swimming and tourism areas still exist around Lake Victoria, visitors are urged to exercise caution and only enter the water in designated zones.