Visited by Dr. Hans Meyer's East African expedition, its name on maps of the time was Urigi.

Its receding waters have left great extents of flat plain on the sides and around the bays running far inland into valleys.

[4] The Yanghiro district, which is situated on the eastern shore of the Urigi, is a hilly region, scattered over with villages and cultivated fields, as well as with woods of banana-trees.

The study area received an average rainfall of 964.36 mm per year, the highest peak recorded in 1951.

[6] Its shores and waters are favored by birds, such as cranes, herons, pelicans, African jacanas, egrets and waders, which find excellent feeding over the large spaces near the extremities and shore line of bays.