Photo: Alien "Water Weed" in Africa Choking Lakes, Killing Fis

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Fishing boats sit abandoned on October 1, 2006, after water levels retreated in Lake Kyoga, Uganda. The boats are ringed by thick patches of water hyacinth.

In addition to drought, Kyoga and nearby Lake Victoria are experiencing a new outbreak of water hyacinth, a fast-growing plant considered a menace.

Although its lavender blossoms (inset) might look appealing, the hyacinth's thick leaves clog vital waterways. The plants also block sunlight and oxygen from reaching the water, killing fish and encouraging blooms of deadly green algae.

Boats photograph by Sean Bryan; water hyacinth photograph by George F. Mobley/NGS

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