Lake Malawi is the southernmost lake in the Great African Rift Valley system. The lake, which is the third-largest in Africa and the ninth-largest in the world, is situated between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. The lake's tropical waters teem with more fish species than any other lake on Earth. Lake Malawi (also known as Lake Nyasa, Lake Nyassa, Lake Niassa, and Lago Niassa in Mozambique), is an African Great Lake and the most southerly lake in the East African Rift valley system. The lake, third largest in Africa and eighth largest in the world, is situated between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. It is also the second deepest lake in Africa but its placid nature at its northerly shore gives no hint of this feature. The lake's tropical waters teem with more fish species than any other lake on Earth David Livingstone was the first European to reach the lake, arriving at its shores in 1859 and naming it "Lake Nyasa." Much of the area surrounding the lake was subsequently claimed by the United Kingdom to form the colony of Nyasaland. Although Portugal took control of the eastern shores of the lake, the islands of Likoma and Chizumulu (which lie just off the shore) were colonised by Scottish missionaries from Nyasaland, and as a result were incorporated as part of Nyasaland rather than Mozambique. Today they form lacustrine exclaves: Malawian territory surrounded by Mozambique waters. On August 16, 1914, the lake saw a brief naval engagement when the British gunboat Guendolen, commanded by Captain Rhoades, heard that World War I had begun and received orders to "sink, burn, or destroy" the German Empire's only gunboat on the lake, the Hermann von Wissmann, commanded by Captain Berndt. Rhoades's crew located the Hermann von Wissmann in a bay near Sphinxhaven, in German East Africa's territorial waters, and disabled it with a single shot from a range of 2,000 yards. The encounter was hailed by The Times as the British Empire's first naval victory of World War I. The shore of the lake that is now Tanzania was part of German East Africa at this point.
Lae Malawi occupies one fifth of Malawi. The lake is 575 km long and the widest point is 85 km long. This beautiful Lake has been around since about 500 BC and has witnessed many interesting historical events. It was there that bloody massacres between tribes took place. The Lake was also the scene of the first British naval battle and victory of World War I. In spite of the turbulence, Lake Malawi remains unspoilt and one of Malawi's' biggest tourist attractions. One of the most important features of the lake is its large numbers of fish . There is also the rare Mbuna or rockfish that is most wanted by aquarists world wide for its unusual behaviour and its vivid colouring. Economically the lake supplies work for thousands of Malawians who are fishermen, net makers, canoe makers and of course fish traders. With the fish trading business, the little villages are occupied by the fishermen and you will therefore see many large wooden racks covered by thousands of tiny silver fish that are dried out and wood smoked for inland marketing. The Malawi government has been very careful not to let Lake Malawi become commercialised, ensuring that those who truly wish to get away will value the unspoilt waters. The visitor to Malawi enjoys the beaches, as they are generally not overcrowded. Along the Southern part of the lakeshore you will get to see the settlement, hotels, campsites and historical sites, but the northern side of the lakeshore is largely untouched by the tourist, making this part with steep embankments which form the walls of the Rift Valley spectacular. Seasons: Two seasons can be recognised; the dry season from Apr-Nov, and the wet season from Dec-Mar. A brief hot and humid period occurs between Nov-Dec. The best time to travel to Lake Malawi is in the dry season. Wildlife: 450 species of freshwater tropical fish. Spectacular birdlife, including kingfisher, fish eagle, heron, jacana, egret and white-breasted cormorant. Precautions: Malaria area - minimize mosquito bites by wearing light, long sleeved clothing and using effective insect repellents (containing Diethyltoluamide DEET) on exposed skin. Sleep under treated mosquito netting or ensure that the doors and windows of your accommodation are screened against mosquitoes. Having a fan or air-conditioner on at night will further suppress mosquito activity. Currently, the three effective anti-malaria tablets are Mefloquine (Lariam or Mefliam), Doxycycline and Malarone (Malanil). It is still possible to contract malaria while on malaria prophylaxis. Note that Lariam may present serious side-effects - please test before you depart.
The Lake Malawi Drilling Project recently completed a scientific drilling campaign on Lake Malawi, recovering a series of continuous sediment cores for paleoclimate studies. Lake Malawi is situated at the southern end of the East African Rift Valley, and has long been recognized as an outstanding laboratory and archive for the study of tropical paleoclimatology, extensional tectonics, and evolutionary biology. Along with Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi holds the promise of a high-resolution paleoclimate record of unparalleled antiquity in the continental tropics. Lake Malawi is one of the world's largest, deepest (maximum water depth of 700 m), and oldest lakes (>7ma?), and is the largest lake in the southern hemisphere (9º-14ºS) after Lake Tanganyika. Widespread poverty within the population plays a significant role in environmental degradation.6 It is particularly difficult for poor and hungry people to make the critical trade-offs necessary for long term sustainability of natural resources because of their pressing immediate needs. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a GNP per capita of US$210 in 1992. Eighty-eight percent of the population lives in rural areas.7 Ironically, this poverty may have spared the lake from large-scale industries which would have destroyed the ecosystem and affected fish and other species in the lake. The lake provides fish for both domestic consumption and export to neighboring countries through an extensive network of small businessmen and women and some large corporations. It is estimated that 230,000 people are employed directly or indirectly in the fishing industries.8 These jobs are now being threatened by dwindling fish stocks. In 1987, the total commercial catch of fish from the lake was 88,586 tons, of which 101 tons were exported; in 1991 the total commercial catch had been reduced to 63,000 tons of which only 3 tons were exported. By 1992 the total catch was 69,500 and there were no exports.9 These figures show a dramatic decline in the fish harvest from the lake, which until that point had been increasing.
