Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi is a large lake in southeastern Africa. It is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake is long, narrow, and very deep. It is most famous for having more species of fish than any other lake in the world.

A Unique Lake

Lake Malawi is about 360 miles long but only about 47 miles wide. It is the ninth largest lake in the world. The lake sits in the Great Rift Valley. Its clear water is home to over 1,000 kinds of colorful fish called cichlids. Most of these fish are found nowhere else on Earth.

People and the Lake

The lake borders three countries: Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Millions of people depend on the lake for fish to eat. Fishing is the most important job for people living along its shores. The lake is also called the Lake of Stars because of the lights from fishing boats at night.

Fun Facts

• Lake Malawi has more fish species than any other lake on Earth.
• Many of the colorful cichlid fish from Lake Malawi are popular in home aquariums.
• The lake holds about 7 percent of the world's unfrozen surface fresh water.

Did You Know?

Lake Malawi is sometimes called the Lake of Stars because the lights of fishing lanterns on the water at night look like stars reflected on the surface!