The Great Lake
Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, (Swahili: Ziwa Nyasa) is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.
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.
The History of Nkhotakota
In ancient times Slaves were held captive in Nkhotakota before being ferried across the Lake to Cobue in Mozambique and then on to Zanzibar off the Tanzanian coast. Today remains of the slave – shackles in a wall can still be viewed in Nkhotakota.
David Livingstone, the famous missionary and explorer, visited Nkhotakota and endeavoured to negotiate to abolish the ruthless, cruel slave trade. He held talks with local chiefs and Arab slavers to try and end slavery. The historic tree where the talks were held is a landmark in town close to the beautiful St Anne’s Anglican Church and Hospital.
Unique Fish Species
Lake Malawi has for millennia provided a major food source to the residents of its shores since its waters are rich in fish. Among the most popular are the four species of chambo. Other species that support important fisheries include the Lake Malawi sardine (Engraulicypris sardella) and the large kampango catfish (Bagrus meridionalis). Most fishing provides food for the increasing human population near the lake, but some are exported from Malawi. The wild population of fish is increasingly threatened by overfishing and water pollution
Molluscs & More
Lake Malawi is home to 28 species of freshwater snails (including 16 endemics) and 9 bivalves (2 endemics, Aspatharia subreniformis and the unionid Nyassunio nyassaensis). The endemic freshwater snails are all members of the genera Bellamya, Bulinus, Gabbiella, Lanistes and Melanoides.