Kenya has a total surface area of 610,000 sq. kilometers and includes its total land area, lakes, and rivers. These areas cover all the regions within the Kenyan boundaries and constitute all eight provinces and forty-seven counties.
Difference between surface area and land area
The surface area of a country consists of all regions within its borders. In Kenya, this region covers 610,000 sq. kilometers. On the other hand, the land area of the country consists of all regions that are not covered by lakes and rivers and are not part of exclusive economic zones.
Kenya has a total land area of 580,609 square kilometers and a total water area of 11,362 sq. Km. Adding the land area with the water area yields the surface area of the whole country. Additionally, Kenya has a terrestrial water area of 18,029 sq. Km.[1]
The map below shows Kenya’s total land area by county.
Marsabit is the largest county by land area at 70,944.1 sq. Km, followed by Turkana, with a land area of 68,232.9 sq. Km. The smallest county in Kenya by land area is Mombasa at 219.9 sq. Km, followed by Vihiga at 563.8 Sq. Km. Nairobi is the third smallest county in Kenya, with a land area of 703.9 sq. Km.
Inland water bodies
According to the Kenya Statistical Abstract, the country has both fresh and saltwater lakes covering an area of 10,839 sq. Km.
The largest lake in Kenya is Lake Turkana, which covers an area of 6,405 sq. Km. It is followed in size by Lake Victoria, which covers an area of 3,855 sq. Km.
The table below shows the size of Kenya’s key water areas alongside the land area of their respective counties.[1]
|
County |
Land Area (Sq. Km) |
Water Area (Sq. Km) |
|
71,905 |
4,126 |
|
|
68,307 |
2,279 |
|
|
2,696 |
2,064 |
|
|
2,453 |
1,089 |
|
|
2,110 |
567 |
|
|
5,832 |
308 |
|
|
7,287 |
202 |
|
|
10,717 |
195 |
|
|
1,686 |
144 |
|
|
21,783 |
116 |
|
|
12,396 |
109 |
|
|
151 |
65 |
|
|
17,090 |
30 |
|
|
3,267 |
3 |
Size of lakes
Kenya has fresh and saltwater lakes of different sizes. Alongside national parks, Kenyan lakes form a crucial part of Kenya's physical landscapes, natural resources, and biodiversity.
The largest lake is Lake Turkana, followed by Lake Victoria. Others are Lake Naivasha, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, and Lake Nakuru.
The table below shows the area covered by Kenyan lakes in square kilometers.[1]
|
Lakes |
Area (Sq. Km) |
|
Lake Turkana |
6,405 |
|
Lake Victoria |
3,855 |
|
Lake Baringo |
155 |
|
Lake Naivasha |
149 |
|
Lake Magadi |
110 |
|
Lake Bogoria |
40 |
|
Lake Nakuru |
32 |
|
Lake Jipe |
25 |
|
Lake Logipi |
24 |
|
Lake Elementaita |
21 |
|
Lake Kanyaboli |
9 |
|
Lake Chala |
5 |
|
Lake Bolossat |
3 |
|
Lake Kabongo |
3 |
|
Lake Loongojit |
3 |
Rivers and streams
Other than lakes, which form a key part of Kenya's hydrological profile, rivers and streams also form a share of Kenya's inland water bodies. The map below shows the distribution of lakes, rivers, and streams in Kenya.
See Also
References
- KNBS 2023. Statistical Abstract 2023. Nairobi, Kenya. (pp. 23 – 24).
