Lake Chilwa
Encyclopedia
Lake Chilwa is the second-largest lake
in Malawi
after Lake Malawi
. It is in eastern Zomba District
, near the border with Mozambique
. Approximately 60 km long and 40 km wide, the lake is surrounded by extensive wetlands
.
335 villages with over 60,000 inhabitants engage in fishing
the lake, and pull in over 17,000 metric tons each year, 20% of all the fish caught in Malawi.
The lake has no outlet, and is at risk for drying up if the water in its catchment is diverted for human use. The Danish International Development Agency has been working to ensure preservation of the lake and its wetlands.
There is a large island in the middle of the lake called Chisi Island
.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
after Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
. It is in eastern Zomba District
Zomba District
Zomba District is one of twelve districts in the Southern Region of Malawi, surrounded by the Districts of Chiradzulu, Blantyre, Mulanje, Phalombe, Machinga, Balaka and the Republic of Mozambique to the east...
, near the border with Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. Approximately 60 km long and 40 km wide, the lake is surrounded by extensive wetlands
Zambezian flooded grasslands
The Zambezian flooded grasslands is an ecoregion of southern and eastern Africa that is rich in wildlife.-Setting:The Zambezian flooded grasslands can be found on seasonally or permanently flooded lowlands in the basin of the Zambezi and neighboring river basins...
.
335 villages with over 60,000 inhabitants engage in fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
the lake, and pull in over 17,000 metric tons each year, 20% of all the fish caught in Malawi.
The lake has no outlet, and is at risk for drying up if the water in its catchment is diverted for human use. The Danish International Development Agency has been working to ensure preservation of the lake and its wetlands.
There is a large island in the middle of the lake called Chisi Island
Chisi Island
Chisi Island is a small island in the middle of Lake Chilwa. Lake Chilwa is the second largest lake in Malawi. The natives of the island have a wide knowledge of forest and lake usage, and the resources these things provide them. Located in the mountains of Chisi Island, there are a few fortified...
.