BANGWEULU

bangweulu, a shallow lake of british central africa, formed by the head streams of the congo. it lies between 10deg 38' and 11deg 31' s. and is cut by 30deg e. bangweulu occupies the north-west part of a central basin in an extensive plateau, and is about 3700 ft. above the sea. the land slopes gently to the depression from the south, east and north, and into it drain a considerable number of streams, turning the greater part into a morass of reeds and papyrus. the term bangweulu is sometimes applied to the whole depression, but is properly confined to the area of clear water. only on its south-west and western sides are the banks of the lake clearly defined. the greatest extent of open water is about 60 m. n. to s. and 40 m. e. to w. long narrow sandbanks almost separate chifunawuli, the western pan of the lake, from the main body of water, while the water surface is further diminished by a number of islands. the largest of these islands, kirui (chiru), lies on the east side of the lake close to the swamp. kisi (chishi) is a small island occupying a central position just south of 11deg