[4] It is surrounded by a swamp which covers an area of 64 square kilometres (25 sq mi), but this can vary largely depending on rainfall.
The lake is home to a variety of types of wildlife including over 400 different species of bird and a sizable population of hippos.
The most recent shift in the fish population followed the accidental introduction of common carp in 2001.
Between 1937 and 1950, the lake was used as a landing place for flying boats on the Imperial Airways passenger and mail route from Southampton in Britain to South Africa.
On the shores of the lake is Oserian ("Djinn Palace"), which gained notoriety in the Happy Valley days between the two world wars.
Lake Naivasha, once described as the Jewel in the Crown of all the East African lakes, has in recent decades been subjected to a series of devastating human pressures, not least the establishment of a vast horticulture and agriculture industry along its shorelines, but also the ever-increasing inflows of nutrients from siltation, sewage and other effluents emanating from a lakeside human population now approaching a million people.
[8] In 1981, the first geothermal plant for Lake Naivasha was commissioned and by 1985, a total of 45 MW of electricity was being generated in the area.
Some of them like the renowned Watamu Boat Rides Naivasha (watamuboatridesnaivasha.com) make a living by taking tourists and locals around the lake, showing them the major hippo hubs as well showcasing the Crescent Island.