Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.
| Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa) | |
|---|---|
View from orbit. North is in upper right corner | |
Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa) Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa) | |
| Coordinates | 12°00′S 34°30′E |
| Lake type | Ancient lake, Rift lake |
| Primary inflows | Ruhuhu River |
| Primary outflows | Shire River |
| Basin countries | Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania |
| Max. length | 560 km (350 mi) to 580 |
| Max. width | 75 km (47 mi) |
| Surface area | 29,600 km2 (11,400 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 292 m (958 ft) |
| Max. depth | 706 m (2,316 ft) |
| Water volume | 8,640 km3 (2,070 cu mi) |
| Surface elevation | 468 metres (1,535 ft) above sea level |
| Islands | Likoma and Chizumulu islets, Mumbo Island |
| References | |
Ramsar Wetland | |
| Official name | Lake Niassa and its Coastal Zone |
| Designated | 26 April 2011 |
| Reference no. | 1964 |
It is the fourth largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, the ninth largest lake in the world by area and the third largest and second deepest lake in Africa. Lake Malawi is home to more species of fish than any other lake in the world, including at least 700 species of cichlids. The Mozambique portion of the lake was officially declared a reserve by the Government of Mozambique on June 10, 2011, while in Malawi a portion of the lake is included in Lake Malawi National Park.
Lake Malawi is a meromictic lake, meaning that its water layers do not mix. The permanent stratification of Lake Malawi's water and the oxic-anoxic boundary are maintained by moderately small chemical and thermal gradients.