Geography and People |
|
|
|
|
Geography Malawi is land-locked, bound by Tanzania in the north, Zambia in the west and Mozambique to the east and south. The entire country covers an area of just 118,000 sq.km, making it slightly smaller than England. It is just over a 1,000km long and about 200km wide at its widest point. Lakes account for around 20% of the total surface area; these ancient bodies of water are the final, southernmost links in the vast Great Rift Valley chain. The smaller lakes of the south include Malombe, Chiuta and Chilwa. But they are dwarfed by Lake Malawi which, at 585 km long and 80km wide, is the third largest lake in Africa, as well as the fourth deepest in the world. The only river flowing out of Lake Malawi is the mighty Shire which meanders south through humid lowlands and over the foaming cataracts which frustrated even Livingstone's exploratory zeal, towards an ultimate rendezvous with the Zambezi. Close to Nsanje, the Shire descends to Malawi's lowest point 38m above sea level. Mount Mulanje at 3050m is central Africa's highest peak, it rises high out of lush tea plantations in the southeast. In the north, the rolling mountain grasslands of the Nyika plateau offer cool relief from the hot lakeshore below. People In common with all African countries, Malawi has experienced a very significant increase in population during the latter part of the twentieth century. The advent of colonial rule at the end of 19th century saw the demise of the Zanzibar-based slave trade and the cessation of bloody, inter-tribal conflicts. Independence brought a modest decrease in infant mortality rates and extended life expectancy. Since then, the control and elimination of once life-threatening diseases has contributed to a rate of population growth, which is currently in excess of 3% per annum. In 1896, the European expatriate population numbered 345. By 1897 this had increased to 587 but, by 1909, there had only been a slight rise to 595. During this same period, the indigenous population was estimated at close to one million. There were also around 500 ethnic Asians, who formed the Sikh backbone of the Central (later King's) African Rifles. Today, the independent Republic of Malawi hosts about 7,000 Europeans and some 10,000 Asians. The indigenous population has grown to over ten million. |