Which of the following statements with reference to Lake Turkana is/are correct?
- 1.It is the largest desert lake in the world.
- 2.The lake is situated in South Sudan along the eastern fringe of the Sahara desert.
- 3.The lake is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also referred to as the ‘Jade Sea’.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only
Lake Turkana is the world's largest desert lake and a UNESCO World Heritage property nicknamed the Jade Sea for its colour. It lies in the Rift Valley of northern Kenya, reaching up to the Ethiopian border, not in South Sudan.
- ✓ 1. UNESCO describes Lake Turkana as the largest desert lake in the world and the most saline lake in East Africa.
- ✗ 2. The lake is in Kenya, in the Rift Valley, and extends north to the Ethiopian border. South Sudan is not involved, and it is not a Sahara-fringe lake.
- ✓ 3. Lake Turkana National Parks, in Kenya, were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997. UNESCO notes the lake is fondly called the Jade Sea because of its colour.
Remember · Lake Turkana (Kenya, Rift Valley, to the Ethiopian border): largest desert lake in the world; Lake Turkana National Parks inscribed by UNESCO in 1997; called the Jade Sea.
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Lake Turkana National Parks ↗ “The Lake is the most saline lake in East Africa and the largest desert lake in the world, surrounded by an arid, seemingly extraterrestrial landscape that is often devoid of life. … The long body of Lake Turkana drops down along the Rift Valley from the Ethiopian border, extending 249 kilometers from north to south and 44 km at its widest point with a depth of 30 meters. … It is Africa's fourth largest lake, fondly called the Jade Sea because of its breathtaking color. … The property is co-managed by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the National Museums of Kenya (NMK).”
Question and answer: UPSC's provisional GS Paper I (2026, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·