A great rift lake known as the 'Lake of Stars', home to more fish species than any other lake.
Surface area
29,600 km²
Maximum depth
about 706 m
Elevation
474 m
Continent
Africa
Countries
Malawi, Mozambique & Tanzania
Did you know?
Lake Malawi has more fish species than any other lake in the world — well over 800, almost all found nowhere else.
Little-known fact
Explorer David Livingstone called it the 'Lake of Stars' for the lanterns of night fishermen twinkling on the water.
Highlights
- Most fish species of any lake
- A world of unique cichlids
- The 'Lake of Stars'
Life in the Lake Malawi
The fish and animals, waterbirds and water plants — including some of the rarest — that this water supports.
Animals & fish
Nile crocodile
Africa’s largest crocodile and a patient ambush hunter little changed since the age of dinosaurs.
Hippopotamus
Africa’s river giant spends its days submerged and is, pound for pound, among the continent’s most dangerous animals.
Waterbirds
African fish eagle
The ringing call of this black-white-and-chestnut raptor is the iconic “voice of Africa” by the water.
Interactive · 3D dive
How deep does a lake go?
A lake is layered from the sunlit, weed-filled shallows down to a cold, dark bed. Tap a zone to dive the submersible through the water column — and meet the life that belongs at each depth.
Tip: hover the column to tilt it · tap a layer to dive
Littoral Zone
The warm, bright band close to shore where sunlight reaches the bottom. Reeds, water lilies and rooted plants grow thickly here, making it the busiest, most crowded part of the whole lake.
Who lives here