Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi occupies a fifth of the Malawi’s total area. It is the third largest lake in Africa. The Lake drains an area larger than Malawi itself yet surprisingly, only one river, the Shire, flows from it. Eventually, the water spills into the Indian Ocean via the River Zambezi.

The surface of the Lake is 1550ft (470m) above sea level. In the north it is quite extraordinarily deep: 2300ft (700m), plunging well below sea level. This reflects the enormity of the natural faulting of the Great Rift Valley which is the origin of the Lake itself.

Because of its potentially rich harvest of fish, the Lake plays an important part in the country’s economy. Fishing villages are scattered along the length of the lakeshore and the traditional industry and practices are an attraction to visitors.