Nyassa

Nyassa, or NYANJA, the southernmost of the equatorial great lakes of East Africa, is situated about 260 miles SE. of Tanganyika and 400 inland from the east coast. It lies at an altitude of 1570 feet, is very deep in the middle, shelving rapidly from the shores, which are rocky and high. Long and narrow, it measures 350 miles from north to south and an average of 40 from east to west. The river Shiré emerges at its southern extremity, and goes south to the Zambesi. The waters of the lake are sweet and abound in edible fish. Although the Portuguese had knowledge of the existence of the lake under the name of Maravi early in the 17th century, Livingstone was the first to fix in 1859 its exact situation and to navigate it.