| Lake Malombe | |
|---|---|
 Seen from space | |
  Lake Malombe | |
| Location | Southern Region |
| Coordinates | 14°40′0″S35°15′0″E / 14.66667°S 35.25000°E /-14.66667; 35.25000 |
| Primary inflows | Shire River fromLake Malawi |
| Primary outflows | Shire River |
| Basin countries | Malawi |
| Surface area | 450 km2 (170 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 6–8 ft (1.8–2.4 m) |
Lake Malombe is alake in southern part ofMalawi. It is located on theShire River,[1] in theSouthern Region around14°40′0″S35°15′0″E / 14.66667°S 35.25000°E /-14.66667; 35.25000, about 20 km (12 mi) south of much largerLake Malawi. It has an area of about 450 km2 (170 sq mi). In recent years the number of fishermen on the lake has risen substantially, and this has led to local decline in somefish species, especially thechambo 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.
The lake-bed was dry for several hundred years until it refilled in the middle of the 19th century.
