Nkhata Bay

Nkhata Bay Nkhata
The town sits on the flat between the hills and Lake Malawi
Nkhata Bay Location in Malawi
Coordinates: 11°36′00″S 34°18′00″E / 11.60000°S 34.30000°E / -11.60000; 34.30000
Country	Malawi
Region	Northern Region
District	Nkhata Bay District
Elevation	1,548 ft (471 m)
Population (2008)
• Total	14,722
Time zone	+2
Climate	Aw

Coordinates: 11°36′S 34°18′E / 11.600°S 34.300°E / -11.600; 34.300

Nkhata Bay or just Nkhata is the capital of the Nkhata Bay District in Malawi. It is on the shore of Lake Malawi (formerly Lake Nyasa), east of Mzuzu, and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. The population of Nkhata Bay is estimated to be 14,722 as of 2008. Nkhata Bay is 413 kilometres (257 mi) from Lilongwe, Malawi's capital city, and 576 kilometres (358 mi) from Blantyre, Malawi's largest city. Nkhata Bay is the second "busiest resort" on Lake Malawi.

The ancestors of Nkhata Bay residents were the Tonga (Lakeside Tonga). In the 19th century the area suffered frequent attacks from the Ngoni people, who fled north to escape the rule of the Zulu king Shaka, in South Africa.

Chichewa is the preferred language in hospitals, churches, radio and newspapers in Nkhata Bay, although Chitumbuka is the main language spoken in the Northern Region. Tonga is the main language spoken in Nkhata Bay's schools; Tonga is used approximately 92% of the time.

Nkhata Bay is dependent on fish. Farming, especially cassava, is the main occupation in the area. Rubber plantations also exist at Nkhata Bay. In May 2008, the Lweya irrigation scheme in Nkhata Bay was "rehabilitated".