Lake Chiuta

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Lake Chiuta
Location of the lake on the border of Malawi and Mozambique.
Location of the lake on the border of Malawi and Mozambique.
Lake Chiuta
LocationMalawi and Mozambique
Coordinates14°49′03″S 35°51′14″E / 14.81750°S 35.85389°E / -14.81750; 35.85389Coordinates: 14°49′03″S 35°51′14″E / 14.81750°S 35.85389°E / -14.81750; 35.85389
Typelake
Surface area199 square kilometres (77 sq mi)
Average depth1.13 metres (3 ft 8 in)
Water volume0.225 cubic kilometres (0.054 cu mi)

Lake Chiuta is a shallow lake on the border between Malawi and Mozambique. It lies to the north of Lake Chilwa and to the south of Lake Amaramba, which has no outlet, and the lakes are separated by a sandy ridge. Both lakes lie in a graben which runs northeast-southwest, east of the main African Rift Valley.

Lake Chiuta is 3–4 meters deep and ranges in size from 25 to 130 square kilometers, depending on the season and rainfall. Lake Chiuta and Amaramba is intermittently linked to the Lugenda River, a tributary of the Ruvuma River.

Lake Chiuta can desiccate completely (Owen et al. 198?)

Mean Depth: 1.13 metres (3 ft 8 in) / average surface area: 199 square kilometres (77 sq mi) / average volume: 0.225 cubic kilometres (0.054 cu mi) / encatchment area: 1,755 square kilometres (678 sq mi) (Ojda 1994)

Predominant commercial fish species are Oreochromis shiranus shiranus (Chambo), Clarias gariepinus (Mlamba), and Barbus paludinosus (Matemba). 37 fish species were recorded in total. (Ojda 1994)

Dominating aquatic macrophytes are Potamogeton welwitschii + Ceratophyllum demersum (submerged), Eleocharis dulcis, Oryza barthii, Vossia cuspidata, etc. (Ojda 1994)

  • Lake Chiuta - northern tip

  • Lake Chiuta - middle part

  • Lake Chiuta - Nafisi Inselbergs

  • Lake Chiuta - fishermen viewed from Chiuta Isl.

  • Lake Chiuta - checking gillnets

  • Lake Chiuta - Chiuta Isl.

  • Lake Chiuta - unique atmosphere

References[]

  • Dawson, A.L. (1970). "The Geology of the Lake Chiuta Area". Geological Survey Dept., Ministry of Natural Resources Malawi. Government Printer, Zomba, Malawi
  • Owen, R.B & R. Crossley, 198?. "Recent sedimentation in Lakes Chilwa and Chiuta, Malawi". Dept. of Geography and Earth Science, University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi
  • Ojda, Lutz W. (1994). "Der Chiuta See in Malawi - Studie eines fluktuierenden tropischen Ökosystems mit Fokus auf dessen maximalen fischereilichen Dauerertrags (MSY) und seiner wirtschaftlichen Bedeutung für die angrenzende Kawinga-Ebene" (Monographie) Dissertation / Universität Hamburg / IHF
  • Thieme, Michelle L. (2005). Freshwater Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar: A Conservation Assessment. Island Press, Washington DC. pp. 173–175.
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