Lake Malawi, surrounded by the countries of Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, is Africa's third largest lake. The majority of the lake lies in the nation of Malawi. Fast Facts:
- Area: 29,600 km
- Islands: Likoma and Chizumulu
- Home to more species of fish than any other lake on earth
East African Rift
Malawi is the southernmost lake in the East African Rift, a zone in which the African tectonic plate splits in two. These types of geological zones are typically found on the ocean floor, not within a continent. The zone includes a number of active and dormant volcanoes, such as Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya.
Cichlidaes
Lake Malawi is home to a number of fish species. One type in particular, known as Cichlidaes, are popular as aquarium pets.
Naming Controversy
British explorer David Livingstone was the first European to arrive at the lake, in 1859. He named it "Lake Nyasa," and named the surrounding area Nyasaland. Some of the nations bordering the lake continue to use this name, including Tanzania, while Malawi uses the eponymous version "Lake Malawi." This has become a more significant issue because of the ongoing disputes between the governments of Malawi and Tanzania.
