Lake Chilwa

Lake Chilwa
Lake Chilwa
seen from space (false color)
Location Zomba District
Coordinates 15°18′S 35°42′E / 15.3°S 35.7°E / -15.3; 35.7Coordinates: 15°18′S 35°42′E / 15.3°S 35.7°E / -15.3; 35.7
Basin countries Malawi
Max. length 60 km
Max. width 40 km

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.



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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Chilwa — See Geographische Lage: Südost Malawi Zuflüsse: Sambani, Phalombe Abflüsse: keine Städte am Ufer: keine Daten …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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  • Malombe, Lake — ▪ lake, Malaŵi       lake fed and drained by the Shire River in southern Malaŵi. It lies in a broken depression running northwest from Lake Chilwa to Lake Nyasa (Nyasa, Lake), parallel to the Shire Rift Valley. The lake is fed by the Shire River… …   Universalium

  • Schilwa — Chilwa See Geographische Lage: Südost Malawi Zuflüsse: Sambani, Phalombe Abflüsse: keine Städte am Ufer: keine Daten …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Schirwa — Chilwa See Geographische Lage: Südost Malawi Zuflüsse: Sambani, Phalombe Abflüsse: keine Städte am Ufer: keine Daten …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • East African lakes — ▪ lake system, East Africa Introduction  group of lakes in East Africa (eastern Africa). The majority of the East African lakes lie within the East African Rift System, which forms a part of a series of gigantic fissures in the Earth s crust… …   Universalium

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