Lake Malombe is a lake in southern part of Malawi, on the Shire River,[1] in the Southern Region. It is located at around 14°40′0″S 35°15′0″E / 14.66667°S 35.25000°E / -14.66667; 35.25000, about 20 km (12 mi) south of much larger Lake Malawi. It has an area of about 450 km2 (170 sq mi). In recent years the number of fishermen on the lake rose substantially, and this led to local decline in some fish species, especially the chambo cichlids which is an important source of food throughout Malawi. The lake is extremely shallow with an average depth of approximately eight feet, and during periods of dry weather the water level recedes and can even disappear.

Lake Malombe
Seen from space
Lake Malombe is located in Malawi
Lake Malombe
Lake Malombe
LocationSouthern Region
Coordinates14°40′0″S 35°15′0″E / 14.66667°S 35.25000°E / -14.66667; 35.25000
Primary inflowsShire River from Lake Malawi
Primary outflowsShire River
Basin countriesMalawi
Surface area450 km2 (170 sq mi)
Average depth6–8 ft (1.8–2.4 m)

The lake-bed was dry for several hundred years until it refilled in the middle of the 19th century.

References edit

  • Community-based fisheries management, Lake Malombe
  • "An evaluation of the Lake Malombe co-management programme" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2006-04-15. (94.1 KiB)
  1. ^ "Community-Based Fisheries Management Lake Malombe, Malawi". Archived from the original on 2006-09-10. Retrieved 2006-09-10.