Lake Malawi is an African Great Lake – the most southern lake in the East African Rift system. It is the fifth-largest freshwater lake in the world (by volume) and the third-largest in Africa (behind Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika). The lake is around 570km in length and some 75km at its widest point with over a 1000 species of fish swimming in its waters. It has the greatest number of fish species in any freshwater system on earth. The fishes are a source of livelihood for thousands and a source of food for millions and vast variety are seen in aquariums across the world.