Lake Amaramba

Lake Amaramba (Portuguese: Lago Amaramba) is a shallow lake in Mozambique, near the border with Malawi. Located in the Nyasa plateau, it is north of Lake Chiuta. The lakes are separated by a sandy ridge and a channel links the two lakes. On the western side of the channel, the connecting waterway is known as the River Msambiti while on the eastern side, it is known as the Lugenda River. Lake Amaramba is intermittently linked to the Lugenda River, a tributary of the Ruvuma River.

Geography

Lake Amaramba is part swamp and part open water spread over a total area of 8,350 hectares (20,600 acres). The open water area accounts for 4,350 hectares (10,700 acres) and swamp or marshy land accounts for 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres). It is bound within geographical coordinates of 14°22′00″S 35°52′00″E / 14.36667°S 35.86667°E / -14.36667; 35.86667 and 14°40′00″S 35°58′00″E / 14.66667°S 35.96667°E / -14.66667; 35.96667 at an elevation of 635 metres (2,083 ft). The lake, formed in a shallow depression, is swampy on the southern and eastern side. The lake measures 35.25 kilometres (21.90 mi) in length with an average width of 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi). For the most part, it lies N.N.E. and S.S.W. The northern end of the lake bears W.N.W. with a width of 1,800 ft (550 m) to 2,400 ft (730 m). The only conspicuous features visible east of the lake are the hills, separate from one another, named Mitumbi, Mero, Mangombo, Chikalulu and Lipembegwe.