Lake Malawi previously named Lake Nyasa is Africa`s third largest lake and a African Rift Valley lake. It is also the lake with the most fish species in the world with over 1000 species of cichlids which are tropical fish often caught and farmed as aquarium fish.

Lake Malawi is a meromictic lake which means that there are layers of water that never mix, the water close to the bottom never mixes with the top water. This is usually due to very deep lakes with steep sides or that the lower levels are slightly saline.

Lake Malawi has shores in Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique with Malawi having the largest chunk of the shoreline.

In Southern Malawi the lake is protected at Lake Malawi National Park and the Mozambique coast is also protected.

Lake Malawi is a fresh water lake and boasts magnificent beaches, mild temperatures and excellent opportunities for water sports including sailing, kayaking, snorkelling and scuba diving.

The lake is about 580 km long north to south and 75km wide from east to west. The Shire River flows out of the lake at the southern end and flows into the Zambezi River.

Lake Malawi is the biggest tourist attraction in Malawi.