Geography |
The Republic of Malawi is a land-locked country situated in south-eastern Africa between latitudes 9° 25' and 17° 08' south and 33° and 36° east. It is bounded on the north by Tanzania, on the east by Lake Malawi (Nyasa), on the southeast and south by Mozambique, and on the west by Zambia. Its total area amounts to 118 480 km2, of which Lake Malawi accounts for 24 280 km2.
The dominant physical feature is the deep, trough-like depression forming part of the Great Rift Valley that traverses the country from north to south and is occupied by Lake Malawi, the lakeshore plains and the Shire River Valley. The latter drains the lake and joins the Zambesi River in its lower reaches. Elevations range from about 40 m to 3 000 m above sea level. The central part is mountainous with peaks up to 2 600 m. The Shire Valley in the extreme south is a low-lying flat 500 m above sea level, while Mt. Mulanje in the south-east tops 3 000 m.
The climate is continental in character with a large seasonal temperature variation. There is a system of annually alternating dry and wet seasons. Most of the former is relatively cold, though its final stages are associated with strong, dry winds and high temperatures. The wet season coincides with the warm weather and thus provides ideal growing conditions. The mean annual rainfall varies between 500 mm and 1 125 mm and can locally be augmented to a considerable degree due to topographic features; for example, temperatures on the Rift Valley floor can exceed 24° C and frosts are unknown. However, frosts are frequent in June and July on the high plateaus, where the mean annual temperature fluctuates below 18° C, but they are less severe and uncommon on the peneplains at lower altitude where the average temperature lies between 18° C and 24° C.
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.