Lake Amaramba
Encyclopedia
Lake 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
.
and part open water spread over a total area of 8350 hectares (20,633.3 acre). The open water area accounts for 4350 hectares (10,749.1 acre) and swamp or marshy land accounts for 4000 hectares (9,884.2 acre). It is bound within geographical coordinates of 14°22′00"S 35°52′00"E and 14°40′00"S 35°58′00"E at an elevation of 635 metres (2,083.3 ft). The lake, formed in a shallow depression, is swampy on the southern and eastern side. The lake measures 35.25 kilometres (21.9 mi) in length with an average width of 1.2 kilometre (0.745647283979768 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 1800 ft (548.6 m) to 2400 ft (731.5 m). The only conspicuous features visible east of the lake are the hills, separate from one another, named Mitumbi, Mero, Mangombo, Chikalulu and Lipembegwe.
Its drainage basin lies partly in Malawi
with a minor stream entering the lake at its southern end. At its upstream end, Lake Chiuta feeds it through a 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) long link channel. During the rainy season, the two lakes become one mass of water spread area. The outlet of the lake leads to the Lugenda River, which in turn joins the Rovuma River, a larger river system. The Amaramba Lake exhibits a feature of a wide river. However, the lake has a narrow width as compared to the Lake Chiuta on the upstream which has a triangular shape.
The lake waters are a sustaining source of fresh water for the people in the region for growing crops and providing the means of inland transportation. The combined lakes, during the annual flood season, also make the land fertile through deposition of enriching silt.
(WWF
) and Oxfam GB
initiated measures to stop the illegal practices. A participatory approach involving people of the area, the local and provincial government and the Coastal Security Commission, was evolved to address the adverse ecological aspects created in the past, with the objective of enhancing production from the lake system without resorting to overuse of the resources of the lake.
Revival measures
The five year programme envisaged for revival of resources of the ecosystem
of Lake Chiuta-Amaramba area, through a participatory approach, involves several measures. The first of these is to prevent resource overuse and introduce measures for increasing productivity to enhance economic conditions of the community thriving on the lake's resources. Establishing a formal lake reserve in Lake Chiuta-Amaramba would preserve the lake's fish and waterbirds and would increase aquatic resources for rightful use by the local community. Also of importance would be establishing checks and balances on the quality and quantity of produce removed from the lake. Protection of the surrounding forest area through an appropriate wildlife management mechanism would permit for diversification of wildlife species which would promote the base structure of the rural livelihood. The final revival measure of the program consists of creating an environment to market local products.
, H.B.M
. Consul to Mozambique and 1885 recipient of the Royal Geographical Society
Gold Medal
, surveyed the area and subsequently published, Journey from Mozambique to Lake Shirwa, and discovery of Lake Amaramba itemizing nine villages and hamlets, named after their chiefs, at the lake's shores. Five of these were upon the eastern (Napulu, Cheinlola, Chekungwa, Chemaunda and Chengogwe), three upon the western (Akumhumbwa, Chemina and Chemataka), and one was located at the northern extremity (Akamtundu). The south-eastern shore of the lake is populated by Lomwe Makua
. Currently, the nearest town to the lake is Cacova on its western side.
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, near the border with Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
. Located in the Nyasa
Nyasa
Nyasa, also spelled Nyassa or Niassa, is a common word for "lake" in the languages spoken around what is now known as Lake Malawi. In the colonial period that lake was called Lake Nyasa and Malawi was named Nyasaland....
plateau, it is north of Lake Chiuta
Lake Chiuta
Lake Chiuta is a shallow lake on the border between Malawi and Mozambique. It lies to the north of Lake Chilwa and to the south of Lake Amaramba, which has no outlet, and the lakes are separated by a sandy ridge...
. 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
Lugenda River
The Lugenda or Lujenda is a river of northern Mozambique. It flows in a north-south direction from Lake Amaramba/Lake Chiuta and is the largest tributary of the Ruvuma River. It joins the Luambala River at . The river valley is reported to be only above sea level. North of Lake Chiuta, those on...
. Lake Amaramba is intermittently linked to the Lugenda River, a tributary of the Ruvuma River
Ruvuma River
Ruvuma River, formerly also known as the Rovuma River, is a river in East Africa, forming during the greater part of its course the border between Tanzania and Mozambique . It is long, with a drainage basin in size...
.
Geography
Lake Amaramba is part swampSwamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
and part open water spread over a total area of 8350 hectares (20,633.3 acre). The open water area accounts for 4350 hectares (10,749.1 acre) and swamp or marshy land accounts for 4000 hectares (9,884.2 acre). It is bound within geographical coordinates of 14°22′00"S 35°52′00"E and 14°40′00"S 35°58′00"E at an elevation of 635 metres (2,083.3 ft). The lake, formed in a shallow depression, is swampy on the southern and eastern side. The lake measures 35.25 kilometres (21.9 mi) in length with an average width of 1.2 kilometre (0.745647283979768 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 1800 ft (548.6 m) to 2400 ft (731.5 m). The only conspicuous features visible east of the lake are the hills, separate from one another, named Mitumbi, Mero, Mangombo, Chikalulu and Lipembegwe.
Its drainage basin lies partly in Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
with a minor stream entering the lake at its southern end. At its upstream end, Lake Chiuta feeds it through a 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) long link channel. During the rainy season, the two lakes become one mass of water spread area. The outlet of the lake leads to the Lugenda River, which in turn joins the Rovuma River, a larger river system. The Amaramba Lake exhibits a feature of a wide river. However, the lake has a narrow width as compared to the Lake Chiuta on the upstream which has a triangular shape.
The lake waters are a sustaining source of fresh water for the people in the region for growing crops and providing the means of inland transportation. The combined lakes, during the annual flood season, also make the land fertile through deposition of enriching silt.
Flora and fauna
The lake system (both Chiuta and Amaramba) had in the past very rich wild life but during the civil war suffered severe poaching and hunting. Aqua fauna in the lake also suffered due to overfishing caused by migrants from Malawi. Following this destruction, the World Wide Fund for NatureWorld Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
(WWF
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
) and Oxfam GB
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
initiated measures to stop the illegal practices. A participatory approach involving people of the area, the local and provincial government and the Coastal Security Commission, was evolved to address the adverse ecological aspects created in the past, with the objective of enhancing production from the lake system without resorting to overuse of the resources of the lake.
Revival measures
The five year programme envisaged for revival of resources of the ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
of Lake Chiuta-Amaramba area, through a participatory approach, involves several measures. The first of these is to prevent resource overuse and introduce measures for increasing productivity to enhance economic conditions of the community thriving on the lake's resources. Establishing a formal lake reserve in Lake Chiuta-Amaramba would preserve the lake's fish and waterbirds and would increase aquatic resources for rightful use by the local community. Also of importance would be establishing checks and balances on the quality and quantity of produce removed from the lake. Protection of the surrounding forest area through an appropriate wildlife management mechanism would permit for diversification of wildlife species which would promote the base structure of the rural livelihood. The final revival measure of the program consists of creating an environment to market local products.
History
In 1882, Henry E. O'NeillHenry E. O'Neill
Henry Edward O'Neill FRGS, FRAS, RN, was a Royal Navy officer and British explorer of central Africa. He served as HBM consul, Mozambique. O'Neill was a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and Royal Geographical Society, as well as an Honorary Corresponding Member of the Scottish...
, H.B.M
Britannic Majesty
His Britannic Majesty, or Her Britannic Majesty, depending on the gender of the monarch, is a formal, or official, term for the sovereign power of the United Kingdom and Dominion Realms in diplomacy, the law of nations, and international relations....
. Consul to Mozambique and 1885 recipient of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
Gold Medal
Gold Medal (RGS)
The Gold Medal are the most prestigious of the awards presented by the Royal Geographical Society. The Gold Medal is not one award but consists of two separate awards; the Founder's Medal 1830 and the Patron's Medal 1838. The award is given for "the encouragement and promotion of geographical...
, surveyed the area and subsequently published, Journey from Mozambique to Lake Shirwa, and discovery of Lake Amaramba itemizing nine villages and hamlets, named after their chiefs, at the lake's shores. Five of these were upon the eastern (Napulu, Cheinlola, Chekungwa, Chemaunda and Chengogwe), three upon the western (Akumhumbwa, Chemina and Chemataka), and one was located at the northern extremity (Akamtundu). The south-eastern shore of the lake is populated by Lomwe Makua
Makua people
The Makua are the largest ethnic group in northern Mozambique, and also have a large population across the border in the Masasi District of Mtwara Region in southern Tanzania. They live in the region to the north of the Zambezi River...
. Currently, the nearest town to the lake is Cacova on its western side.
Further reading
- Thieme, Michelle L. (2005). Freshwater Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar: A Conservation Assessment. Island Press, Washington DC. pp. 173–175.