Lake Malawi is the ninth largest lake in the world and is located in the Rift Valley in eastern Africa, it is approximately 600 kilometres long and can measure up to 80 kilometres wide. The lake contains 850+ species of Cichlids – almost all of these are endemic to the lake (i.e. they occur nowhere else). Malawi Cichlids are very popular freshwater aquarium fish as they are very hardy and provide a lively and colourful display.