Water Hyacinth Invades 53 Countries, Covers 90% of Lake Victoria Shore

Water hyacinth, a South American ornamental plant, has invaded 53 countries across five continents. It covered about 90% of Lake Victoria's shoreline, the largest lake in Africa, causing an estimated $150 million annual economic loss to the region. Introduced around 1879 and first spotted on Lake Victoria in 1989, the plant threatens fisheries, hydroelectric power, agriculture, human health, and the local economy.

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