Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi is a deep freshwater lake in the East African Rift, shared by Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. It is also called Lake Nyasa or Lake Niassa and is renowned for its exceptionally diverse cichlid fishes.

East African Rift: A system of continental rifts and associated highlands extending through eastern Africa. Lake Malawi occupies one of the rift’s deepest basins.
Lake stratification: The layering of lake water into zones with different temperatures and densities. Stratification separates surface habitats from deep water for much of the year.
Lake Malawi National Park: A protected area in Malawi that includes part of Lake Malawi and its shoreline islands. It protects a representative habitat for the lake’s cichlids and other wildlife.
Lake Malawi cichlids: The diverse assemblage of cichlid fishes native to Lake Malawi. Their rapid diversification makes the lake a landmark example of fish evolution.
Lake Tanganyika: A deep freshwater rift lake in East Africa, bordered by Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Zambia. It is another ancient rift lake with endemic cichlids, but differs in basin history and water chemistry.
African Great Lakes: A group of large lakes in and near the East African Rift system. Lake Malawi is one of the region’s great rift lakes.
Upwelling: The rise of deep, nutrient-rich water toward a body of water’s surface. Seasonal winds bring nutrients upward and influence the lake’s productivity.
Fisheries of Lake Malawi: The capture fisheries and associated livelihoods sustained by Lake Malawi. Fishing provides food and income, while pressure can reduce vulnerable stocks.
Adaptive radiation: The diversification of one ancestral lineage into species adapted to different ecological roles. Lake Malawi cichlids diversified into many forms with distinct diets and habitats.
Lake Victoria: A large African freshwater lake bordered by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. Its shallower basin and ecological history contrast with Malawi’s deep rift setting.

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