| Lake Mweru Wantipa | |
|---|---|
 The muddy colour of the shallow lake, centre, contrasts with the very deep and dark blue Lake Tanganyika (right) and the not-so-deep, greenish Lake Mweru (left).
Source:NASA[1] | |
  Lake Mweru Wantipa  Lake Mweru Wantipa | |
| Location | Northern Province |
| Coordinates | 8°42′S 29°46′E / 8.700°S 29.767°E |
| Basin countries | Zambia |
| Max. length | 65 km (40 mi) |
| Max. width | 20 km (12 mi) |
| Surface area | 1,500 km2 (580 sq mi) (2005) dry (1916) |
| Average depth | 2 m (6 ft 7 in) |
| Max. depth | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 932 m (3,058 ft) |
| Settlements | Kaputa |
Lake Mweru Wantipa or Mweru-wa-Ntipa meaning "muddy lake" (also called 'Mweru Marsh') is a lake and swamp system in the Northern Province of Zambia. It has been regarded in the past as something of mystery, displaying fluctuations in water level and salinity which were not entirely explained by variation in rainfall levels; it has been known to dry out almost completely.[2] This is compounded by its remoteness and it not receiving the same attention from geographers and geologists as its larger and more accessible neighbours, Lake Tanganyika, 25 km east, and Lake Mweru, 40 km west, with which its name is sometimes confused.
Lake Mweru Wantipa is a rift valley lake lying in a branch of the East African Rift, running from the Luapula River to Lake Tanganyika. There are some hot springs characteristics of a rift valley to the east. Its water is muddy in appearance, at times appearing reddish and 'slightly oily'.[2] In the local dialect "wa ntipa" means "with mud", hence "Mweru Wantipa" distinguishes it from its bigger neighbour, Lake Mweru, which has clearer water.[3]