Malawi is the African country associated with Lake Malawi, also called Lake Nyasa, and with Lilongwe as its capital.
Lake Malawi occupies a large part of Malawi’s eastern border and is one of the African Great Lakes. It is also shared by Tanzania and Mozambique, where different naming traditions are common. The lake is famous for its clear water and exceptional diversity of freshwater fish, especially cichlids, many of which are found nowhere else.
Lilongwe became Malawi’s capital in 1975, replacing Zomba, which remains an important city and the location of the country’s former administrative centre. Malawi was formerly known as Nyasaland under British rule and became independent in 1964. Its narrow, elongated territory lies between Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique, explaining why the lake’s international name can vary by country.