Lake Malombe

The Malombesee is the third largest lake in Malawi ( East Africa).

It lies 472 m above sea level, is about 30 km long, up to 15 km wide, 7 m deep and has partly overgrown, partly marshy shore. The lake is an extension of the Shire River which drains the more northerly Malawi. Since Malawi is only 13 km north and tourism is far more interesting, the Malombesee plays more of a role as a nature reserve. In the southeast of Liwonde National Park covers a portion of its shore.

Fish fauna

The fish fauna of the lake is dominated by small to medium sized cichlids, which partially divides the Malombesee with the much larger and richer types Malawi. At the most important are members of the genera Lethrinops, Otopharynx and Copadichromis that are only 7-8 cm long usually account for about 70 % of the fish catch of local fishermen and are referred to them as " Kambuzi ". More living in the lake cichlids are almost 30 cm long " Chambo " ( Oreochromis sp.), The " Mbaba " ( Buccochromis sp. ) And the " Mcheni " ( Rhamphochromis sp.). The various Rhamphochromis species are fish eaters and eat mostly carp fish Engraulicypris sardella, Copadichromis and Diplotaxodon sp., Another cichlid. The most common " Mcheni " type Rhamphochromis longiceps is 20 inches long, making it the smallest Rhamphochromis type. More fish in the lake are the catfish " Kampango " ( Bagrus meridionalis ) and Clarias gariepinus, which is with a maximum length of one meter and a maximum weight of 20 kg, the largest fish of the lake.

According to FAO tonnes of fish are caught in the lake per year 12,100.