Kivu is a Swahili word that refers to a lake situated between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. There are several synonyms for Kivu that can be used to refer to the lake. Lake Kivu is sometimes called Rwandan Kivu as it is shared between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Another synonym for Kivu is the freshwater lake, as it is one of only three large lakes in the African Great Lakes region that is freshwater and not saline. Additionally, it is sometimes referred to as a volcanic lake, as it is positioned on the path of a volcanic rift, leading it to form from volcanic activity.