Lake Bangweulu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lake Bangweulu is a large but shallow lake in northern Zambia. It covers a surface area of 5,000 sq km but has an average depth of only 4 m. The lake is part of the Congo River system and is fed by the Chambeshi River from the northeast. The area around Lake Bangweulu is a large wetland known as Bangweulu Swamp or Bangweulu Wetlands. The swamp results from the growth of excessive vegetation, which acts as a check on annual flooding by releasing water slowly through many lagoons and channels. The lake drains into the Luapula River.

The town of Samfya lies on the lake's south western shore, a base for boats to the lake's various inhabited islands. The lake is used by a local fishing industry and is also known for its crocodiles.

The missionary David Livingstone died in Chief Chitambo's village on the southern shores of Lake Bangweulu in 1873.