David Livingstone started it off with lake of stars. When it was realized that the giant stretch of water was approximately 365 miles from north to south and 52 miles wide, it became the calendar lake. For the visitor it is quite simply the jewel in the crown of all Malawi has to offer the visitor. The lake fills that yawning gash in the lands of eastern Africa, the Great Rift Valley . Its deepest point plunges 700 meters.
Such a vast expanse of warm fresh water and an absence of tides is temptation enough but surrounding the lake are great stretches of gold and silver sand beaches separated by enticing rocky caves and promontories. The beaches are clean and quite frequently completely empty. A feeling of ownership comes over the sunbathes or beach comber. Venture into the water, its warm enough to swim all year round, and you join the fish life which is the lake’s treasure. Lake Malawi is home to what is probably the largest number of fish species of any lake in the world. No wonder the lake is a Mecca for snorkelers and scuba divers. There’s even the world’s first fresh water national park at cape Maclear .
Sailing has long been popular on the lake. The best known manifestation of this sport is the famous Lake Malawi International sailing marathon. This has been an annual convent since 1980s and always attracts a good field. The race is over five or six legs and takes a considerable portion of the lake.
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