Western Cichlid Forum

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Lake Malawi, originally known as Lake Nyasa, Lake Nyassa and Lake Niassa after the Yao word for “lake”, is the most southerly lake in the Great African Rift Valley system. First “discovered” by the famed Scottish explorer and missionary Dr. David Livingstone, Lake Malawi has commonly been referred to as “Livingstone’s Lake.”

The lake is about 560 km long and 75 km wide at its widest point, with a total area of approximately 29,600 sq km. The lake is bordered by Mozambique, Malawi, and Tanzania. Its outlet is the Shire River; its largest tributary is the Ruhuhu. About three quarters of the lake is in Malawi; the rest is in Mozambique.

There are two inhabited islands in the lake, Likoma and Chizumulu. Although they are surrounded by Mozambican waters, they belong to Malawi having been colonised by Scottish missionaries from the Malawi mainland. Likoma is dominated by a huge stone Anglican cathedral. A notable feature of both islands is the large number of Baobab trees.

Lake Malawi is known not only for its beauty but as the home of the Malawi Cichlids, a diverse species of fish that is collected by enthusiasts worldwide. These hardy fish, locally known as mbuna are an important export for Malawi, but wild populations are increasingly threatened by commercial collecting and localized pollution.

Lake Malawi has traditionally provided a major food source to the residents of Malawi as it is rich in fish, the most famous of which is the Chambo, a fresh-water perch.

A high altitude shot over looking Mozambique