Lake Msingazi (also known as Lake Mzingazi) is a coastal lake situated near Richards Bay on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This relict estuarine lake covers a surface area of approximately 12.16 km² and sits within a catchment of 164 km². Fed by several small coastal streams, the lake has a fascinating geological character — its depths actually fall below mean sea level, a remnant of its estuarine origins. The water level was first raised in 1943 with the construction of a berm, and subsequent modifications have elevated the water level by approximately 2 meters since then. The lake drains via a vertical drop spillway into the Mzingazi River, which flows into the Mzingazi Canal and ultimately into the Port of Richards Bay, South Africa's largest commercial port. A saltwater barrier was also constructed across the Mzingazi River below the lake to prevent saline water intrusion during drought years, further shaping the lake's unique freshwater character.