Lake Albert, also Albert Nyanza and Lake Mobutu Sese Seko, lake, east central Africa, in western Uganda and northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, formerly Zaire). Located in the great Great Rift Valley, Lake Albert is elliptical in shape, 160 km (100 mi) long and 35 km (22 mi) at the widest part, with no depth exceeding 17 m (56 ft); the area is 5,350 sq km (2,070 sq mi). The surface of the lake is 600 m (2,000 ft) above sea level and is estimated to have been 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level in recent geological times. One of the sources of the Nile River, Lake Albert receives the waters of Lake Victoria to the southeast by way of the Victoria Nile and of Lake Edward to the southwest by way of the Semliki River. It is drained to the White Nile on the north by way of the Albert Nile. Lake Albert was sighted in 1864 by the British explorer Sir Samuel Baker, who named it in honor of Albert, prince consort of Britain. Since 1894 it has formed part of the boundary line between Uganda and the DRC.