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Fun facts about Lake Malawi

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Lake Malawi seen from orbit
lake

Lake Malawi is between 560 and 580 kilometres long and about 75 kilometres wide at its widest point.

Lake Malawi
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lake

Lake Malawi

Multiple

Area
29,600 km²
Max depth
706 m
Countries
Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania
9th largest lake in the world

Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

From the “Geography” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) · Public Domain

Fact 1 permalink
Lake Malawi seen from orbit
lake

Lake Malawi has been estimated to be 1–2 million years old, but recent evidence suggests it may be considerably older.

Lake Malawi
Multiple
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lake

Lake Malawi

Multiple

Area
29,600 km²
Max depth
706 m
Countries
Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania
9th largest lake in the world

Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

From the “Geological history” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) · Public Domain

Fact 2 permalink
Lake Malawi seen from orbit
lake

The lake's water is alkaline with a typical surface temperature between 24 and 29 °C.

Lake Malawi
Multiple
Tap to learn more
lake

Lake Malawi

Multiple

Area
29,600 km²
Max depth
706 m
Countries
Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania
9th largest lake in the world

Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

From the “Water characteristics” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) · Public Domain

Fact 3 permalink
Lake Malawi seen from orbit
lake

David Livingstone named Lake Malawi 'Lake Nyasa' and referred to it as the 'Lake of Stars' due to the lanterns of fishermen resembling stars.

Lake Malawi
Multiple
Tap to learn more
lake

Lake Malawi

Multiple

Area
29,600 km²
Max depth
706 m
Countries
Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania
9th largest lake in the world

Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

From the “European colonisation” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) · Public Domain

Fact 4 permalink
Lake Malawi seen from orbit
lake

Lake Malawi is home to at least 700 cichlid species, with some estimates suggesting the actual number could be as high as 1,000.

Lake Malawi
Multiple
Tap to learn more
lake

Lake Malawi

Multiple

Area
29,600 km²
Max depth
706 m
Countries
Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania
9th largest lake in the world

Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

From the “Wildlife” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) · Public Domain

Fact 5 permalink