Lake Malawi National Park
| Lake Malawi National Park | |
|---|---|
|
IUCN category II (national park) | |
|
Children playing of the shore of Lake Malawi | |
  | |
| Location | Central and Southern Regions, Malawi |
| Coordinates | 14°02′S 34°53′E / 14.033°S 34.883°ECoordinates: 14°02′S 34°53′E / 14.033°S 34.883°E |
| Area | 94 km² |
| Established | November 24, 1980 |
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | vii, ix, x |
| Designated | 1984 (8th session) |
| Reference no. | 289 |
| State Party | Malawi |
| Region | Africa |
Lake Malawi National Park is a national park located in Malawi at the southern end of Lake Malawi. It is the only national park in Malawi that was created to protect fish and aquatic habitats. Despite this, Lake Malawi National Park does include a fair amount of land, including several small islands in Lake Malawi. It is also home to other animals such as baboons. A large baobab tree, purportedly over 800 years old, is said to have been a favourite of Dr. David Livingstone as a place where he could give sermons and speak with other missionaries. The graves of five early missionaries are also found in the park. The many endemic fish species make it a key example of specialized evolution. For this characteristic, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.